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BEYOND  THE  HORIZON 

A  Novel 


w 


BEYOND    THE 
HORIZON 


A    Novel 


BY 

FRED   B.   MORRILL 

AUTHOR    OF    "THE    CAMPAIGN,"    A 
POLITICAL   NOVEL,    PUBLISHED    BY   THIS  HOU8E 


THE  NEALE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

440     FOURTH     AVENUE,      NEW     YORK 
MCMXVIII 


Copyright,  1918.  by 
The  Neale  Publishing  Company 


TO  MY  WIFE 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 


Prologue 

CHAPTER 

I.  A  Flight  Through  Space  . 

II.  A  Look  Backward     . 

III.  The  End  of  the  Flight     . 

IV.  Gold  a  Useless  Thing 

V.  Entree  Into  the  New  World 

VI.  An   Equestrian   Dance 

VII.  The  System 

VIII.  We  Continue  Our  Journey 

IX.  An  Execution  Sale    . 

X.  An  Industrial  System 

XI.  True  Christianity 

XII.  How  Criminals  Are  Made 

XIII.  A  Eailroad  System    . 

XIV.  Treatment.  Not  Punishment 
XV.  A  City  and  Its  People 

XVI.  For  Man  and  Humanity    . 


PAGE 

9 

17 

23 

47 

53 

65 

86 

115 

149 

173 

183 

194 

214 

234 

246 

262 

284 


BEYOND  THE  HORIZON 


PROLOGUE 

I  MAKE  A  PROMISE 

Soon  after  the  beginning  of  the  new  year 
just  past,  while  making  a  trip  across  the  con- 
tinent, the  train  on  which  I  was  traveling  was 
snowbound  in  the  mountains,  and  for  several 
days  we  were  cut  off  from  all  intercourse  with 
the  outside  world.  Fortunately,  the  larder  of 
the  diner  was  well  supplied  with  provisions,  and 
there  was  coal  enough  in  the  tender  of  the 
engine  to  furnish  sufficient  heat  to  keep  the 
cars  comfortable,  so,  except  for  the  inconven- 
ience of  the  delay,  the  passengers  did  not  suffer 
any  discomfort. 

Thus  isolated,  and  with  nothing  to  do  but 
pass  away  the  time  and  endeavor  to  make  our 
enforced  imprisonment  as  pleasant  as  possible, 
it  was  but  natural  that, — among  some  of  us 
at  least, — agreeable  and  lasting  friendships 
should  be  formed.  The  fact  that  for  the  time 
being  we  were  living  almost  as  one  family, 
under  the  same  conditions,  with  no  cares  to 

9 


10  Beyond  the  Horizon 

harass  nor  duties  to  perform,  seemed  to  pro- 
duce a  feeling  of  good  fellowship  among  the 
passengers;  and  when,  after  the  first  twenty- 
four  hours,  it  became  certain  that  it  would  be 
several  days  before  we  could  proceed,  all  re- 
straint was  cast  aside,  and  we  were  no  longer 
strangers  but  comrades  bent  upon  making  the 
best  of  our  situation. 

Among  my  fellow-passengers  there  was  one 
that  particularly  attracted  my  attention;  not 
only  by  reason  of  his  quiet,  genial  manner,  but 
also  on  account  of  his  thoughtful  consideration 
for  the  welfare  and  comfort  of  others.  He  was 
a  well  put-up,  athletic  young  man,  about  thirty 
years  of  age,  with  refined,  clear-cut  features 
and  expressive  blue  eyes,  which,  when  he  was 
engaged  in  earnest  conversation,  reflected  his 
variable  emotions, — eyes  that  at  times  were 
calm  and  grave,  then  again  sparkling  with  an 
intellectual  glow  that  accentuated  the  thoughts 
that  he  was  uttering;  a  smile  pleasing  and 
attractive,  and  a  laugh  so  genial  and  hearty 
that  there  could  be  no  doubt  of  the  genuineness 
of  the  merriment  that  it  proclaimed. 

He  soon  became  a  general  favorite  with  the 
passengers,  and  was  always  the  life  of  any  party 
of  which  he  was  a  member.  I  observed,  how- 
ever, that  when  by  himself  he  was  frequently 
absorbed  in  deep  thought,  and  apparently  had 
something  on  his  mind  that  was  causing  him 
much  concern.    At  first  I  could  not  fully  deter- 


I  Make  a  Promise  11 

mine  whether  it  was  a  matter  of  serious  import 
to  himself  or  some  grave  problem  that  he  had 
assumed  the  task  of  solving.  His  general  de- 
meanor seemed  to  indicate  that  he  was  not  bur- 
dened with  many  of  the  cares  that  fall  to  the 
lot  of  man;  therefore  it  seemed  unlikely  that 
his  periods  of  seriousness  and  absorption  were 
caused  by  any  personal  financial  complications. 
And  as  we  grew  to  be  better  acquainted  I  soon 
became  convinced  that  the  state  of  his  mind 
was  not  that  of  worry  but  rather  that  of  per- 
plexity,— probably  over  some  important  course 
of  action  that  he  was  carefully  considering. 

My  interest  in  the  young  man  caused  me  to 
seek  his  society  much  more  than  that  of  any 
other  of  the  passengers:  an  attention  that  he 
seemed  to  reciprocate  with  interest.  As  a  nat- 
ural result,  we  spent  a  considerable  portion 
of  our  time  together.  He  was  an  easy  and 
interesting  conversationalist  and  handled  any 
subject  that  we  might  have  under  discussion  in 
a  manner  that  proved  him  to  be  a  man  that 
had  traveled  extensively,  and  one  that  had  made 
the  most  of  his  opportunities.  Although  he  was 
well  informed  upon  literature  and  familiar  with 
the  current  events  of  the  day,  I  soon  found  that 
he  was  especially  interested  in  sociology,  exhib- 
iting a  profound  knowledge  of  that  subject. 

He  was  very  much  opposed  to  war,  and  main- 
tained, with  much  feeling,  that  war  was  barbaric 
and  unnecessary;  even,  indeed,  going  so  far  as 


12  Beyond  the  Horizon 

to  assert  that  the  present  prevailing  tendency 
of  the  nations  of  the  world  to  engage  in  bloody 
strife  was  conclusive  evidence  that  the  human 
race  had  not  advanced  beyond  the  brutal,  or 
barbaric,  state. 

Another  astounding  proposition, — to  me, — 
that  he  advanced  was  that  this  world  was  capa- 
ble of  producing  more  than  enough  for  every 
being  in  it,  and  that  mankind  was  solely  to 
blame  for  the  poverty  and  wretchedness  that 
were  everywhere  present.  And  when  I  opposed 
that  idea,  he  very  readily  assembled  in  support 
of  his  contentions  sufficient  facts  and  figures 
to  overcome  completely  any  arguments  that  I 
could  advance  to  sustain  the  position  I  had 
taken. 

Yet,  notwithstanding  his  genial,  candid  man- 
ner and  his  intellectual  and  pleasing  personal- 
ity, there  was  a  something  about  the  man  that 
I  could  not  fathom.  At  times  there  was  a  fas- 
cinating strangeness  about  him  that  seemed  al- 
most unreal,  and  in  such  moments  he  appeared 
to  be  a  man  of  mystery, — but  with  a  mysterious- 
ness  that  charmed  and  attracted  rather  than 
repelled.  Just  what  might  be  the  enigmatic 
quality  that  so  affected  me  I  could  not  have 
explained  if  I  had  tried.  If  I  had  attempted 
to  do  so,  I  could  only  have  said  that  at  times, 
when  engaged  in  earnest  conversation,  he  con- 
veyed to  me  the  impression  that  he  was  famil- 
iar with  a  different  period,  or  I  might  say  with 


/  Make  a  Promise  13 

another  world  than  this.  It  was  an  impression 
faint  and  unreal,  not  at  the  time  seriously  con- 
sidered, yet  it  haunted  my  mind  as  does  the 
hazy  recollection  of  a  dream. 

It  therefore  naturally  followed  that  I  soon 
became  interested  in  my  fellow-passenger,  and 
as  there  was  nothing  to  divert  my  attention 
during  the  enforced  imprisonment,  I  must  con- 
fess that  before  it  was  ended  I  had  become  so 
completely  absorbed  in  the  man  that  my  state 
was  that  of  one  under  some  mesmeric  spell. 

I  have  mentioned  that  sometimes  he  talked 
and  acted  as  if  he  were  familiar  with  another 
world ;  and  when  I  make  that  assertion  I  do  so 
with  the  full  knowledge  that  very  few,  if  any, 
can  comprehend  how  any  one,  whose  mind  is  in 
a  normal  condition,  can  give  out  an  impression 
of  that  kind.  But  who  in  this  day  and  age  may 
say  that  a  man  is  mentally  unbalanced,  just 
because  he  speaks  of  something  as  possible,  or 
even  as  existing,  even  though  the  entity  of  which 
he  is  aware  be  beyond  the  ordinary  affairs  of 
general  knowledge  and  understanding, — espe- 
cially if  that  man  is  vigorous  and  active,  both 
mentally  and  physically,  clear  of  eye,  and  pos- 
sessed of  a  personality  that  appeals  to  all  with 
whom  he  comes  in  contact? 

It  was  not  so  very  long  ago  when  no  one 
would  have  believed  it  possible  for  a  person 
in  New  York  to  converse  with  another  in  San 
Francisco.     If  any  one  had  had  the  temerity 


14  Beyond  the  Horizon 

seriously  to  maintain  that  it  could  be  done,  he 
would  have  been  declared  insane  by  all  of  his 
fellow-men.  To  throw  the  human  voice  across 
the  continent  would  have  been  looked  upon  as 
an  impossible  feat.  Yet,  that  which  had  been 
considered  impossible  has  been  accomplished, 
and  the  only  wonder  now  is  that  it  had  not  been 
achieved  before. 

What  would  the  pioneers  of  '49,  as  they  pur- 
sued their  weary  way  across  the  plains  and 
over  the  mountains  toward  the  setting  sun,  have 
said  to  any  one  that  might  have  advanced  the 
idea  that  the  time  would  soon  come  when  to 
travel  across  the  continent  from  ocean  to  ocean 
would  be  only  a  comfortable,  even  a  luxurious, 
journey  of  a  few  days? 

We  now  have  wireless  telegraphy  and  phono- 
graphs, flying  machines  and  submarines,  and 
many  other  inventions  almost  as  wonderful, — 
all  accepted  as  a  matter  of  course,  when  but  a 
few  years  ago  they  would  have  been  considered 
impossibilities.  So  we  know  that  the  things 
that  had  once  been  considered  impossible  have 
in  the  course  of  time  become  realities.  And  it  is 
not  for  us  to  say  what  is  impossible,  either  upon 
this  planet,  which  we  call  our  world,  or  in  the 
universe  of  which  it  forms  an  infinitesimal  part. 

If  some  genius  of  to-day  could  get  in  commu- 
nication with  the  inhabitants  of  Mars,  within 
the  year  we  would  be  reading  in  our  morning 
papers,  with  as  little  concern  as  we  now  read 


I  Make  a  Promise  15 

the  news  of  the  Great  War,  the  Associated  Press 
dispatches  from  that  mysterious  planet. 

The  impossible  of  to-day  may  become  an 
accepted  fact  to-morrow,  and  will  not  even  be 
looked  upon  as  a  wonder, — or  a  miracle. 

I  was,  therefore,  not  altogether  unprepared 
for  the  disclosure  made  to  me  by  my  fellow- 
traveler  before  we  arrived  at  the  end  of  our 
journey.  Yet,  although  somewhat  prepared, 
even  so  I  was  astounded, — more,  dazed, — by  the 
immensity,  and,  as  it  then  appeared  to  me,  un- 
reality of  what  he  revealed.  And  when,  after 
finishing  his  disclosure,  he  handed  me  a  manu- 
script and  requested  that  I  take  charge  of  its 
publication,  I  could  not  at  the  moment  either 
consent  or  refuse. 

"I  realize,"  he  said,  "that  you  will  wonder 
why  I  do  not  attend  to  its  publication  myself; 
but  I  cannot, — it  is  impossible. ' '  Then  he  added 
with  much  earnestness:  "You  will  understand 
the  reason  why  I  cannot  do  so  when  you  have 
read  the  manuscript.  I  cannot  remain  here  any 
longer.  The  manuscript  contains  all  that  I  have 
told  you  and  much  more.  It  has  been  written 
by  me  from  notes  made  while  I  was  there,  and 
I  will  vouch  for  its  accuracy.  I  regret  that  I 
have  not  the  time  to  write  more.  While  I  was 
there  I  saw  so  much  more  than  I  have  described. 
But  the  call  for  me  to  return  is  irresistible,  and 
I  must  go  back." 

I  did  not  at  the  time  make  him  the  promise 


16  Beyond  the  Horizon 

that  lie  requested.  But  before  we  separated  I 
willingly  assured  him  that  I  would  faithfully 
carry  out  his  request.  And  in  accordance  with 
that  promise,  and  wishing  for  his  enlightening 
chronicle  the  consideration  hoped  for  by  its  au- 
thor,— my  storm-bound  companion, — it  is  here- 
with presented  without  any  changes  or  altera- 
tions. 

F.  B.  M. 


CHAPTER  I 

A  FLIGHT  THROUGH  SPACE 

For  two  hundred  and  forty  hours  we  had 
been  traveling  through  space,  my  companion 
evincing  during  that  time  much  less  concern 
than  an  experienced  traveler  would  have  had 
upon  an  ocean  liner.  Now,  however,  he  began 
to  show  more  interest  than  heretofore  in  our 
course  and  surroundings,  and  occupied  his  time 
in  making  observations  from  the  circular  glass 
outlooks  in  the  front  and  sides,  and  even  in  the 
top  and  bottom,  of  our  compartment,  as  well  as 
in  studying  an  instrument  that  was  set  solidly 
into  the  wall  near  the  buttons  by  which  he  con- 
trolled the  machinery  and  the  steering-appara- 
tus of  the  car. 

During  all  that  time  of  travel  there  had  been 
continual  sunshine,  and  I  had  got  into  the  habit 
of  computing  time  by  hours  instead  of  by  days. 
The  sun  and  moon  had  been  the  only  objects 
visible,  the  latter  pale  and  indistinct,  for  a 
time  being  almost  below  instead  of  above  us, 
and  to  be  seen  only  by  looking  through  the 
outlooks  in  the  bottom  of  our  compartment, — 
which  at  first  gave  me  a  feeling  hard  to  describe. 

17 


18  Beyond  the  Horizon 

During  the  first  few  hours  after  commencing 
our  journey,  Creon, — for  such  was  the  name  by 
which  my  companion  had  requested  me  to  call 
him, — had  busied  himself  with  taking  observa- 
tions, adjusting  the  machinery,  and  fixing  our 
course.  But  after  that  he  paid  very  little  atten- 
tion to  these  matters,  except  to  take  an  occa- 
sional observation,  which  was  always  made  in 
connection  with  the  sun  and  the  instrument 
before  mentioned.  After  our  direction  had  been 
once  fixed,  and  the  machinery  adjusted  accord- 
ingly, we  continued  in  as  direct  a  course  as  does 
a  bullet  in  leaving  the  barrel  of  a  high-power 
rifle,  and  possibly  as  swiftly;  although  it  was 
impossible  to  ascertain  whether  we  were  simply 
floating  through  space  or  traveling  at  a  high 
rate  of  speed.  A  faint  buzz  and  whirr  of  ma- 
chinery and  a  slight  vibration  therefrom  had 
been  constant,  but  otherwise  there  was  no  per- 
ceptible motion. 

All  the  machinery  was  contained  in  a  small 
room  in  the  rear  of  our  living  compartment, 
and  was  controlled  either  by  the  simple  pres- 
sure of  a  button  or  the  slight  turning  of  a 
small  lever,  there  being  several  of  each  in  the 
rear  of  the  room.  The  temperature  and  air 
supply  were  also  controlled  in  the  same  manner, 
the  air  coming  from  a  compressed-air  chamber 
extending  along  the  whole  top  of  the  car,  and 
being  kept  in  constant  circulation  by  electric 
fans  similar  to  those  that  we  see  in  general  use. 


A  Flight  Through  Space  19 

After  circulating  through  the  car,  the  air  was 
forced  through  a  purifying,  or  cleansing,  proc- 
ess and  then  into  the  original  compartment  to 
be  again  used.  Thus  we  were  always  furnished 
with  fresh  air  in  plenty.  This  system  Creon  ex- 
plained, after  it  had  occurred  to  me  that  our 
air  space  was  limited,  and  I  had  expressed 
alarm  lest  it  become  exhausted. 

Our  meats,  fish,  and  vegetables  were  main- 
tained fresh  and  cool  by  a  system  of  refrigera- 
tion, produced  by  forcing  air  into  the  box  in 
which  our  provisions  were  kept;  the  air,  pass- 
ing through  a  damp  cloth  of  felt-like  texture 
before  coming  in  contact  with  the  contents  of 
the  refrigerator  box,  was  thus  dampened  and 
cooled,  and  kept  our  food  supply  in  perfect  con- 
dition. 

Our  cooking  was  done  by  electricity,  in  a  small 
buffet  kitchen,  and  required  very  little  of  our 
time.  The  compartment  in  which  we  lived  was 
some  twenty-five  by  fifteen  feet  in  size,  com- 
fortably but  not  elaborately  furnished,  while 
concealed  electric  lights,  which  were  only  turned 
off  while  we  slept,  added  to  the  subdued  sun- 
light that  came  through  the  heavy  glass  out- 
looks, producing  a  soft,  mellow  light,  very  pleas- 
ing and  restful. 

I  must  confess  that  I  have  not  described  all 
that  was  contained  in  that  compartment.  And 
while  I  still  hesitate  to  mention  a  portrait  on  the 
wall, — having  intended  not  to  mention  it  at  all. 


20  Beyond  the  Horizon 

— I  feel  that  unless  I  do  describe  it  (or,  rather, 
shall  I  say,  attempt  to  do  so)  I  have  failed  to 
give  my  readers  any  idea  of  the  room  in  which 
I  made  the  journey  from  planet  to  planet. 

When  I  first  beheld  this  portrait  I  was  under 
the  excitement  of  commencing  a  journey  never 
before  undertaken  by  any  of  my  fellow-men; 
yet,  when  my  eyes  first  rested  upon  those  fea- 
tures I  could  scarcely  suppress  an  involuntary 
exclamation  of  admiration.  It  was,  as  I  after- 
wards ascertained,  the  enlargement  of  a  photo- 
graph, and  colored  true  to  life.  The  picture 
was  that  of  an  exquisitely  beautiful  girl  just 
out  of  her  teens,  with  delicately  chiseled  fea- 
tures, a  Cupid 's  bow  mouth,  upon  which  rested 
the  trace  of  a  smile  in  keeping  with  the  half- 
laughing  dark  eyes  that  looked  at  me  modestly 
but  fearlessly,  a  skin  soft  and  white,  just  tinted 
with  enough  of  the  flowing  blood  of  healthy  life 
to  give  a  warm,  rich  color,  and  over  all  a  crown 
of  dark-auburn  hair,  which  even  in  the  subdued 
light,  gave  forth  an  indescribable  delicate  lus- 
ter. No  ornaments  bedecked  either  her  tapering 
fingers  or  shapely  ears,  but,  nestling  in  the 
bosom  of  her  dress,  a  rosebud  just  unfolding 
into  bloom  produced  a  charming  contrast  to  the 
pearly  skin  above. 

It  was  a  portrait  of  Halena,  the  daughter  of 
Creon.    He  always  spoke  of  her  as  Hallie. 

A  small  room  between  our  living  compart- 
ment and  the  machinery  room  in  the  rear  was 


A  Flight  Through  Space  21 

fitted  up  with  a  mechanical  riding  horse,  punch- 
ing bag,  and  other  devices,  giving  us  ample 
opportunity  for  exercise.  So,  taking  everything 
into  consideration,  we  were  as  cozy  and  com- 
fortable as  two  travelers  could  well  expect  to 
be. 

The  car  in  which  we  were  traveling  was  oper- 
ated and  controlled  by  electricity,  which  was 
automatically  generated  in  a  small  compart- 
ment in  the  front  end;  but  I  am  unable  to 
describe  the  mechanism  by  which  the  operation 
was  accomplished. 

My  companion  explained  that  our  journey 
was  being  made  by  simply  driving  our  car  in 
a  direct  course  from  the  earth  and  heading  off, 
as  it  were,  in  its  direct  flight  through  space  the 
planet  to  which  we  were  going;  and  that,  in 
order  to  connect  with  our  objective,  it  was  only 
a  simple  proposition  of  calculating  the  speed 
and  course  of  that  planet  in  relation  to  our 
speed.  He  also  explained  that  what  was  re- 
quired on  our  part  was  to  drive  our  car  beyond 
the  influence  of  the  gravitation  of  the  earth 
and  within  that  of  the  planet  of  pur  destina- 
tion. Since,  then,  we  were  continuing  in  a 
course  directly  opposite  to  that  in  which  the 
earth  we  had  left  was  moving,  and  in  a  diago- 
nal direction  toward  the  other  planet, — which 
was  coming  at  a  rapid  rate  toward  us, — the 
going  from  the  gravitational  influence  of  the 
earth  into  that  of  the  other  planet  would  be 


22  Beyond  the  Horizon 

accomplished  in  the  quickest  time  possible,  and 
was  as  simple  as  crossing  the  Atlantic  on  a 
steamer  from  New  York  to  Liverpool. 

A  journey  from  one  planet  of  the  universe  to 
another  not  being  a  new  experience  to  my  com- 
panion, he  did  not  share  with  me  the  excitement 
that  possessed  me  during  the  first  few  hours 
after  we  had  started  on  our  travels.  To  be 
shooting  through  space  like  a  huge  ball  pro- 
pelled from  the  mouth  of  an  enormous  cannon, 
— or  perhaps  rather  like  a  meteoric  body  flung 
forth  from  one  of  the  planets  and  sent  out  into 
that  limitless  space  through  which  the  millions 
of  planets  that  make  up  the  universe  have  been 
plunging  for  untold  ages, — to  see  your  world 
recede  from  you,  grow  smaller  and  smaller,  and 
then  vanish  into  the  dim  distance,  to  fade  away 
and  disappear  into  that  nothingness  by  which 
you  are  surrounded,  is  a  strange  and  startling 
experience,  and  the  sensations  produced  are 
indescribable. 


CHAPTER  II 

A   LOOK    BACKWARD 

It  might  be  desirable  not  to  proceed  as  rap- 
idly with  this  narrative  as  did  we,  Creon  and  I, 
in  making  the  journey  I  have  been  describing,  in 
order  to  devote  a  few  lines  to  a  general  descrip- 
tion of  myself,  and  recite  some  of  the  circum- 
stances that  led  up  to  my  trip  from  planet  to 
planet, — a  journey  that,  I  will  admit,  must 
seem  as  improbable  to  my  readers  as  it  would 
have  appeared  to  me  twenty-four  hours  before 
I  became  immerged  in  that  something  called 
space,  from  which  I  emerged  into  a  new  world, 
and  for  a  time  mingled  with  its  people. 

As  for  myself,  I  still  consider  that  I  am 
young,  although  a  sufficient  number  of  anniver- 
saries of  my  birth  have  come  and  gone  to  place 
me  in  that  class  of  bipeds  styled  "bachelors" — 
as  distinguished  from  benedicts, — a  class  that 
to  belong  to,  I  have  found,  under  the  circum- 
stances by  which  I  have  been  surrounded,  has 
had  its  disadvantages  as  well  as  its  advantages. 
Upon  my  arrival  into  this  world  I  was  exceed- 
ingly fortunate  in  the  selection  of  my  parents. 
In  fact,  my  family  have  shown  good  judgment 

23 


24  Beyond  the  Horizon 

in  that  regard  ever  since  my  great-grandfather 
accumulated  a  snug  little  fortune  in  the  slave 
trade  and  wisely  invested  it  in  Manhattan  real 
estate,  with  the  result  that  his  posterity  have 
been  able  to  live  in  luxury  and  "give  no 
thought  to  the  morrow."  Being  rich  and  a 
bachelor,  I  naturally  have  been  looked  upon 
with  envy  by  some,  and  as  a  "good  catch"  by 
others,  who  have  had  marriageable  daughters 
to  be  disposed  of.  Not,  I  am  bound  to  confess, 
on  account  of  any  distinguishing  qualities  that 
I  possess  as  a  man,  but  merely  on  account  of 
my  chance  selection  of  parents  through  whom 
I  can  enjoy  the  accumulations  of  the  old  slave- 
trader. 

I  remember  at  one  time  wondering  how  it  hap- 
pened that  I  should  come  down  the  centuries, 
and  just  at  the  opportune  moment  step  into  this 
world  with  my  fortune  already  made;  why  it 
was  that  I  should  have  had  the  special  privilege 
of  enjoying  the  wealth  made  in  such  a  business ; 
but,  after  attempting  to  solve  the  problem,  I 
finally  concluded  that  it  was  all  a  mere  matter 
of  chance,  and  that  the  one  who  stepped  in  the 
fraction  of  a  second  behind  me  was  probably 
leading  a  life  of  hardship,  or  perhaps  was  a 
descendant  of  one  of  my  ancestor's  slaves. 
Having  arrived  at  which  paradoxical  conclu- 
sion, I  congratulated  myself  upon  my  good  for- 
tune, and  dismissed  the  subject  from  my  mind. 

For  some  time  I  have  been  interested  in  the 


A  Look  Backward  25 

study  of  the  different  phases  of  the  social  prob- 
lem and  also  in  a  cursory  way  have  looked  into 
the  different  systems  of  government.  Of  war 
I  have  always  maintained  a  feeling  of  horror. 
I  have  never  been  able  to  reconcile  myself  to 
the  idea  that,  either  as  citizens  or  soldiers,  men 
should  be  allowed  to  destroy  homes  and  kill  or 
maim  one  another. 

Not  being  required  to  bother  myself  with 
business  affairs,  and  having  an  income  sufficient 
to  enable  me  to  do  as  I  pleased,  I  have  devoted 
a  large  portion  of  my  time  in  traveling  about 
the  world  as  my  fancy  has  directed ;  sometimes 
in  out-of-the-way  places  where  the  footprints 
of  men  were  rarely  seen,  and  at  other  times  in 
the  congested  centers  of  civilization.  My  trav- 
els, however,  have  not  been  the  rambling  from 
place  to  place  of  an  idle  man,  without  aim  or 
object,  but  have  usually  been  made  with  the 
view  of  pursuing  the  studies  I  have  mentioned ; 
although,  I  must  confess,  I  have  never  contem- 
plated taking  a  part  in  any  of  the  various  social 
reform  movements  that  are  being  advocated.  I 
had  become  interested  in  the  subject  and  it  may 
have  been  (probably  at  first  was)  partially 
curiosity  that  prompted  me  to  engage  in  my 
investigations. 

Most  men  have  a  hobby  upon  which  they 
spend  more  or  less  of  their  time  and  thoughts, 
and  my  particular  one  has  been  sociology.  If 
I  were  to  give  a  reason  for  my  interest  in  the 


26  Beyond  the  Horizon 

subject,  I  fear  that  I  would  have  to  confess 
that,  as  I  required  something  to  occupy  my 
time,  that  study  appealed  to  my  imagination 
more  forcibly  than  did  anything  else ;  although, 
as  I  proceeded  with  my  inquiry,  I  commenced 
to  entertain  the  hope  that  I  might  be  able  to 
evolve  a  plan  for  the  general  betterment  of  the 
human  race.  It  gradually  became  clear  to  my 
mind  that  a  social  system  under  which  the  de- 
scendants of  a  slave-trader  could  live  in  luxury 
and  idleness,  while  those  of  his  slaves  must 
struggle  in  poverty  and  want, — a  system  under 
which  Chance  plays  the  most  prominent  part  in 
controlling  the  lives  of  men, — was  wrong  and 
unjust. 

While  spending  a  few  weeks  in  Atlantic  City 
shortly  after  returning  from  a  trip  to  one  of 
the  South  American  states,  I  became  acquainted 
with  Creon,  my  companion  in  flight  through 
space  to  another  world.  Before  forming  his 
acquaintance  I  had  frequently  noticed  him 
about  the  hotel  at  which  I  was  stopping,  my 
attention  being  particularly  attracted  to  him 
by  reason  of  his  courteous  manner  toward  every 
one  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  Waiters  and 
other  employees  about  the  hotel  he  seemed  to 
regard  as  acquaintances  rather  than  as  servants 
bound  to  do  his  bidding  and  unworthy  of  fur- 
ther notice ;  though  at  the  same  time  he  required 
of  them  such  service  as  other  guests  were  en- 
titled to  receive.     With  the  guests  as  well  as 


A  Look  Backward  27 

with  the  employees  he  appeared  to  be  a  general 
favorite,  and  was  much  sought  after  as  a  pleas- 
ant companion. 

In  appearance  he  was  a  man  between  forty- 
five  and  fifty  years  of  age.  He  was  always 
well  dressed,  and  impressed  me  as  being  a  man 
of  the  world,  fond  of  good  but  wholesome  living, 
with  plenty  of  leisure  at  his  disposal,  and  pos- 
sessed of  ample  means  to  enable  him  to  enjoy 
life  at  its  best. 

One  evening,  several  days  after  I  had  first 
noticed  him,  Creon  accosted  me  as  I  was  enter- 
ing the  dining-room,  remarking  that  he  noticed 
I  was  about  to  dine  alone  and,  as  he  did  not 
have  any  company  for  the  evening,  it  had  oc- 
curred to  him  that  we  might  pass  the  dinner 
hour  more  pleasantly  by  occupying  a  table  to- 
gether. 

I  very  readily  accepted  the  suggestion,  and 
thus  commenced  an  acquaintance  and  friend- 
ship that  completely  changed  my  whole  life. 
Little  did  I  then  realize  that  that  evening's  meal 
would  lead  to  an  association  that  would  furnish 
the  means  of  my  visiting  a  new  world,  of  my 
making  a  flight  through  space  from  one  planet 
of  the  universe  to  another  in  about  the  same 
length  of  time  as  required  to  make  the  trip  from 
an  American  to  a  European  port.  I  found  him 
that  evening  a  rare  and  entertaining  compan- 
ion, and  thereafter  sought  his  company  as  much 
as  possible. 


28  Beyond  the  Horizon 

From  Creon's  conversation  it  was  evident 
that  be  had  traveled  in  many  countries  and  was 
familiar  with  the  forms  of  government  and  so- 
cial conditions  of  all  the  principal  nations.  Re- 
garding himself,  his  occupation,  and  residence 
he  never  made  mention,  and  I  came  to  the  con- 
clusion that  he  was  one  of  that  class  of  men 
that  spend  their  time  in  traveling  from  place  to 
place  and  from  country  to  country,  as  their  in- 
clinations might  lead  them.  He  was  always 
good-natured  and  cheerful,  and  apparently 
v*  ithout  a  care  on  earth,  or  a  thing  to  cause  him 
worry  or  apprehension.  In  manner  he  was 
quiet,  unassuming,  and  genial;  fond  of  whole- 
some amusements,  and  very  much  interested  in 
outdoor  sports;  was  an  enthusiastic  lover  of 
horses,  and  an  expert  horseman.  A  man  who 
had  read  much  and  remembered  what  be  had 
read, — of  literature  and  history,  both  ancient 
and  modern,  he  possessed  a  knowledge  far 
superior  to  that  of  any  person  with  whom  I  had 
ever  before  come  in  contact.  Such  was  Creon, 
a  man  whom  to  know  was  to  appreciate  and 
always  remember, — a  man  of  another  world 
than  mine,  although  I  was  not  made  acquainted 
with  that  fact  until  some  time  later, — just  be- 
fore our  journey  commenced. 

As  our  acquaintance  continued,  I  found  that 
his  ideas  of  government  and  all  matters  per- 
taining to  social  conditions,  man's  obligations 
to  man,  and  general  manner  of  living  were  in- 


A  Look,  Backward  29 

teresting  and  entirely  different  from  any  I  had 
ever  heard  advanced.  And  as  our  acquaintance 
ripened  into  friendship,  the  more  freely  he  dis- 
cussed these  matters  and  the  more  fully  he  gave 
expression  to  his  ideas.  Well  do  I  remember 
our  discussion  that  resulted  in  the  journey  al- 
ready mentioned, — a  discussion  that  com- 
menced at  the  dinner-table  in  the  evening  and 
did  not  end  until  after  the  morning  sun  was 
shining  into  his  room,  to  which  we  had  ad- 
journed after  finishing  our  meal.  Before  that 
he  had,  at  times,  in  a  general  way  advanced 
ideas  that  were  new  and  strange,  but  upon  this 
occasion  he  cast  aside  all  restraint  and  showed 
how  this  world  of  ours,  by  the  simple  exercising 
of  common  sense  and  good  judgment  on  the  part 
of  its  people,  could  forever  do  away  with  wars, 
misery,  and  want,  and  insure  to  every  one 
plenty  and  to  spare.  According  to  his  idea,  all 
of  our  systems  of  government  were  wrong;  our 
plan  of  education,  our  social  system,  and  our 
method  of  training  and  bringing  up  our  youth 
were  not  such  as  to  properly  develop  the  mind 
and  thoroughly  appeal  to  the  human  side  of  our 
organism.  He  contended  that  the  human  race 
was  composed  of  two  elements, — human  or 
divine,  and  animal  or  brute ;  that  any  system  of 
government,  society,  or  education  that  tended  to 
foster  and  develop  the  animal  rather  than  the 
human,  is  primarily  wrong,  engendering,  as  it 
does,  in  the  mind  of  man  greed  and  envy,  which 


30  Beyond  the  Horizon 

are  the  principal  causes  of  crime  and  man's  in- 
humanity to  man. 

"Why,"  he  exclaimed,  growing  more  enthusi- 
astic as  he  proceeded,  "the  greater  portion  of 
your  literature  appeals  to  the  animal  rather 
than  to  the  human  part  of  man,  and  tends  to 
degrade  rather  than  to  elevate  the  mind.  Your 
histories  as  studied  in  the  schools  are  almost 
entirely  given  over  to  wars,  battles,  rapine,  and 
bloodshed, — to  tales  and  records  of  the  doings 
of  kings,  rulers  and  warriors,  who  are  repre- 
sented as  heroes  for  the  admiration  of  mankind, 
when  in  many  instances  the  world  would  have 
been  much  better  off  had  they  never  been  born. 
In  your  histories  the  people  are  not  given  any 
consideration,  and  their  manner  of  living,  their 
habits,  customs,  and  pleasures  are  rarely  men- 
tioned. The  idea  is  instilled  into  the  mind  that 
war,  with  all  its  horrors,  furnishes  the  only 
means  for  the  production  of  heroes  and  men  of 
valor. 

1 '  Then  let  us  take  the  classics,  so-called, — the 
'Iliad,'  for  instance,  which  is  much  studied 
and  read  as  a  literary  gem, — and  what  do  we 
find?  A  production  of  rare  composition  and 
great  poetical  beauty  without  question,  but  yet 
given  over  to  war,  bloodshed,  and  carnage, 
brought  about  by  the  infidelity  of  a  faithless 
wife,  whose  beauty,  as  well  as  the  valor  of  her 
paramour,  is  extolled  to  the  uttermost.  Mene- 
laus,  the  outraged  husband;  Agamemnon,  the 


A  Look  Backward  31 

much-lauded  king,  and  all  its  heroes,  both  Greek 
and  Trojan,  are  brought  forth  as  men  of  fierce 
passions,  boastful  and  conceited,  whose  profes- 
sion it  was  to  butcher  human  beings,  and  who 
were  never  satisfied  unless  fully  occupied  in  that 
business.  Peace  and  good  will  toward  men  find 
no  place  within  its  lines. 

"Then,  again,  what  do  the  people  have  pre- 
sented to  them  in  the  papers  as  news  for  every- 
day reading,  to  go  with  one's  breakfast? 
"Here,"  he  said,  picking  up  a  morning  paper, 
"is  a  fair  sample.  On  the  front  page,  under 
attractive  headlines  we  find  an  account  of  a 
prize  fight,  the  result  of  each  round  being  given 
in  detail.  The  winner,  it  says,  was  roundly 
cheered  by  the  enthusiastic  men  and  women 
in  attendance,  and  after  the  fight  was  over  he 
was  carried  away  from  the  ring  upon  the  shoul- 
ders of  his  admiring  friends.  His  opponent  was 
rendered  unconscious  by  a  knock-out  blow, 
which  broke  his  jaw,  and,  as  he  fell,  blood 
streamed  from  his  nose,  mouth,  and  ears;  for 
a  time  the  physicians  in  attendance  were  doubt- 
ful of  his  recovery.  The  huge  building,  espe- 
cially constructed  for  the  purpose,  was  crowded, 
and  many  people  could  not  even  procure  stand- 
ing room,  and  were  turned  away  disappointed. 
The  presence  of  many  fashionably  gowned 
ladies  and  their  escorts  was  very  noticeable. 
The  interest  taken  by  the  ladies,  who  watched 
the  fight  closely  and  expressed  their  approval 


32  Beyond  the  Horizon 

when  their  favorite  landed,  was  clearly  appre- 
ciated by  the  contestants.  Many  thousand  dol- 
lars changed  hands  on  the  result.  Then  we 
have  a  full  description  of  three  murders;  the 
details  of  the  lynching  of  a  negro ;  two  automo- 
bile accidents,  in  which  three  people  are  killed 
and  several  injured ;  an  account  of  a  bank  rob- 
bery, and  nearly  a  whole  page  is  given  to  a  sen- 
sational divorce  trial,  in  which  much  of  the 
testimony  is  published  in  full. 

"So  much  for  local  news,  all  tending  to  ex- 
cite but  not  to  improve  the  mind.  Then  we 
have  the  description  of  a  recent  battle,  and 
from  it  may  be  formed  some  idea  of  what  war 
is.  Listen  to  this:  'General  Fighter's  troops 
charged  the  enemy,  and  in  a  hand-to-hand  con- 
flict captured  several  standards  and  a  large 
number  of  guns  and  prisoners.  The  carnage 
was  fearful,  his  men  charging  over  heaps  of 
the  slain  in  order  to  reach  the  enemy.  General 
Fighter's  famous  charger,  Bellerophon,  was 
killed  during  the  melee,  and  was  buried  upon  the 
field  with  military  honors.  The  hospital  corps 
being  insufficient  to  care  for  the  wounded,  many 
lay  where  they  fell,  exposed  to  the  rain  and 
cold  for  hours,  and  perished  for  want  of  care 
and  attention.  In  order  to  maintain  the  posi- 
tion won,  the  exhausted  troops  remained  upon 
the  field  during  the  night,  without  rations  or 
shelter;  the  living  and  the  dead  sleeping  to- 
gether in  the  muddy  trenches,  which  had  been 


A  Look  Backward  33 

taken  from  the  enemy  at  the  point  of  the  bay- 
onet. ' 

' '  Think  of  the  feelings  of  wives  and  mothers 
whose  husbands  and  sons  on  both  sides  are  fol- 
lowing the  colors!  That  is  war,  where  human 
life,  especially  the  life  of  the  common  soldier, 
is  reckoned  as  nothing;  men  as  so  many  units 
to  be  blotted  out,  whereupon  others  are  forced 
in  to  take  their  places,  to  be  in  turn  pierced  with 
bullets,  or  torn  with  shot  and  shell,  and  left 
upon  the  ground  uncared  for  and  forgotten  by 
their  comrades,  who  have  been  transformed 
from  human  beings  into  fighting  demons.  And 
yet,  by  a  system  of  education  and  training  that 
to  me  seems  impossible,  men  are  made  to  believe 
that  war,  with  all  its  horrors,  is  just  and  right, 
and  that  to  fight  and  die  upon  the  field  of  battle 
is  a  glorious  death. 

"  If  a  whole  human  race,  by  a  course  of  train- 
ing and  education,  can  be  brought  to  that  point 
and  be  persuaded  to  leave  their  homes  and 
families  and  take  up  the  weapons  of  war  and 
go  forth  to  kill  and  be  killed,  how  much  better 
would  it  be, — and  certainly  much  easier, — to 
educate  and  train  all  mankind  to  peace;  to  in- 
stil into  their  minds  that  war  cannot  be  made 
an  excuse  for  killing  and  destroying;  that  it  is 
just  as  wrong  for  a  people  banded  together  as 
a  nation  to  kill  mankind  and  destroy  homes  as 
for  an  individual  to  commit  the  same  crime; 
that  no  nation,  great  or  small,  has  the  right  to 


34  Beyond  the  Horizon 

declare  war  against  any  other  nation,  or  the 
right  to  keep  and  maintain  armament,  instru- 
ments, or  munitions  of  war  of  any  kind.  It  is 
the  possession  of  the  gun  that  creates  the  de- 
sire to  shoot;  the  means  of  death,  the  desire 
to  kill.  Would  there  be  any  wars  if  the  people 
of  all  nations  were  trained  to  peace  and  no  pro- 
visions for  war  were  made  or  allowed  1  You 
forbid  by  law  the  carrying  of  arms  by  a  private 
citizen,  but  you,  as  a  nation,  spend  millions  of 
dollars,  each  year,  in  battleships,  arms,  muni- 
tions of  war,  and  the  training  of  men  to  fight. 
As  a  soldier  a  man  may  take  the  lives  of  hun- 
dreds and  become  a  hero  worshiped  in  song  and 
story,  but  as  a  citizen,  if  he  intentionally  kills 
or  even  injures  another,  he  is  severely  punished. 
As  a  soldier  he  is  urged  to  destroy,  but  as  a 
citizen,  if  he  takes  or  injures  the  property  of 
another,  he  is  sent  to  prison.  Why  should  the 
people  of  a  nation  collectively  do  that  which 
would  be  considered  a  crime  if  done  individu- 
ally? 

"You  see  that  it  does  not  take  either  much 
thought  or  study  to  determine  that  under  your 
system  of  training  and  education  the  human 
race  has  advanced  but  very  little,  if  at  all,  since 
the  dawn  of  history;  that  even  those  you  call 
the  most  enlightened  are  still  mere  barbarians. 
As  a  nation  your  people  commit  crimes,  under 
the  guise  of  civilization,  and  never  stop  to  con- 
sider what  you  have  done;  and  if  you  do,  you 


A  Look  Backward  35 

soothe  your  conscience  with  the  thought  that 
it  was  an  act  of  the  government  in  the  interest 
of  your  so-called  civilization  and  must  be  right, 
and  therefore  is  right.  If  the  people  and  those 
who  are  in  control  of  the  governments  and  na- 
tions would  devote  the  same  attention,  thought, 
and  money  to  the  elimination  of  poverty  and 
the  uplifting  of  the  human  race  that  they  do  to 
war  and  preparation  for  war,  there  would  be  no 
poverty  and  want,  nor  even  ignorance  in  this 
world. 

"War  lords  are  unnecessary,  and  would  not 
be  tolerated  in  any  enlightened  country.  A  few 
of  them  in  control  of  one  of  your  principal  na- 
tions have  set  your  whole  world  aflame." 

"But  suppose  one  government  insults  an- 
other would  not  the  government  so  insulted 
insist  upon  an  apology?"  I  inquired.  "It  could 
not  do  otherwise  and  maintain  its  dignity  as  a 
nation.  And  then  we  will  say  that  the  apology 
is  not  forthcoming.  War  would  then,  of  course, 
be  inevitable.  The  dignity  of  a  nation  must  be 
sustained,  no  matter  what  it  may  cost  in  life 
and  property.  Misery,  woe,  want,  widows,  and 
orphans  count  for  nothing,  as  compared  with 
the  dignity  of  a  nation  and  of  those  who  gov- 
ern." 

"From  your  standard  and  way  of  reason- 
ing, yes,"  he  replied.  "But  is  your  way  of 
looking  at  it  correct?  Is  there  any  excuse  for 
allowing  any  nation  or  body  of  men  to  prepare 


36  Beyond  the  Horizon 

for  the  taking  of  human  life  and  the  inflicting 
upon  mankind  the  misery  and  woe;  the  grief, 
anguish,  and  suffering  that  war  entails;  the 
widows  and  orphans  and  the  destruction  of 
homes!  If  one  man  insults  another,  do  your 
people  allow  the  man  insulted  to  kill  the  man 
who  insults  him?  And  if  you  do  not  allow  that, 
why  should  a  government  or  a  nation  act  dif- 
ferently than  would  an  individual  ?  If  one  man 
cannot  arm  and  prepare  to  destroy  his  fellow- 
men,  their  homes  and  property,  why  should  a 
large  body  of  men,  called  a  nation,  do  so. 

"Do  you  know  that  your  forms  of  govern- 
ment are  a  relic  of  barbarism  growing  out  of 
the  banding  together  of  men  for  their  mutual 
protection  from  each  other,  and  from  beasts  of 
prey,  in  that  period  when  all  men  were  mere 
savages,  and  like  the  wild  beasts  of  the  forests, 
depended  upon  brute  strength  and  cunning  for 
their  very  existence?  In  those  bands  were  men 
who,  on  account  of  possessing  superior  strength 
and  cunning,  became  leaders,  and  to  a  certain 
extent  governed  the  band  to  which  they  be- 
longed. They  surrounded  themselves  with 
every  protection  they  could  conceive  of,  and  for 
weapons  used  clubs  and  stones  for  the  destruc- 
tion of  their  enemies. 

"Such  was  life  in  those  crude  and  brutal 
times.  Battles  were  fought,  men  and  leaders 
killed,  and  one  band  joined  another.  In  the 
course  of  time  some  of  the  bands  became  oblit- 


A  Look  Backward  37 

erated,  while  others  grew  in  size  and  strength, 
and  finally  formed  what  you  call  governments 
or  nations,  still  retaining  the  same  system  as  did 
those  original  bands  of  savages  when  dressed 
in  the  skins  of  wild  beasts, — only  upon  a  larger 
scale  and  in  a  more  effective  manner.  Instead 
of  a  few  being  killed  with  crude  and  unwieldy 
weapons,  your  people  now  kill  and  destroy  by 
the  thousands,  and  lay  desolate  the  country  over 
which  they  pass.  Because  of  long  practice  in 
war  and  the  invention  of  weapons  of  destruc- 
tion your  people  now  commit  cruelties  and 
cause  misery  and  suffering  unknown  and  un- 
thought  of  by  those  roving  bands  of  long  ago. 
As  I  read  your  histories  and  study  your  people, 
I  find  that,  while  you  have  made  progress  in 
some  things  during  the  past  few  thousand 
years,  your  social  system, — your  methods  of 
government  have  practically  remained  the  same. 
I  find  that  you  have  made  great  progress  in  the 
art  of  war  and  great  strides  in  the  invention  of 
weapons  of  destruction.  You  can  now  take  life, 
destroy  cities,  villages,  and  homes  more  effec- 
tually than  ever  before.  But  has  your  progress 
in  literature,  art,  and  many  of  the  sciences  ad- 
vanced accordingly!  Is  the  life  of  a  human 
being  held  dearer  by  those  in  power;  or  is  it 
any  more  worth  the  living  to-day  than  it  was 
in  the  higher  types  of  civilization  five  thousand 
years  ago?    Your  whole  system  of  government 


38  Beyond  the  Horizon 

is  a  system  of  spoliation, — of  the  strong  preying 
upon  the  weak. 

"In  any  civilized  and  enlightened  country 
every  one  works  for  the  common  good  of  all, 
not  for  himself  alone.  Every  one  must  produce 
his  share,  either  for  the  needs  or  pleasures  of 
all;  and  when  that  condition  is  fully  attained, 
the  people  can  claim  that  they  have  reached  a 
state  of  civilization  and  enlightenment;  not  be- 
fore. So  long  as  there  remains  ignorance,  bru- 
tality, misery,  and  want, — all  of  which  are  un- 
necessary under  a  proper  system  of  training 
and  education, — just  so  long  will  the  people 
remain  in  a  state  of  barbarism.  And  do  you 
know  that  those  who  are  possessed  of  the  high- 
est order  of  intelligence,  of  the  most  learning, 
and  of  that  which  you  term  wealth,  are  mostly 
to  blame;  for  they  are  the  ones  who  have  the 
ability,  the  means,  and  the  opportunity  to  bring 
about  the  necessary  changes.  Those  changes 
can  never  be  accomplished  by  means  of  wars 
and  strife,  by  the  destruction  of  property,  by 
agitation  or  agitators,  nor  by  one  class  pitting 
itself  against  another.  All  these  methods  only 
engender  bitterness  and  hate;  they  accomplish 
nothing.  Neither  can  the  changes  be  brought 
about  either  by  class  legislation  or  by  the  enact- 
ment of  lawTs  of  which  you  already  have  far  too 
many.  For  the  more  you  have  the  farther  are 
you  away  from  the  object  to  be  attained.  The 
result    can    only   be    accomplished   by   proper 


A  Look  Backward  39 

training  and  education,  by  appealing  to  the 
higher  instincts  of  the  human  race;  not  alto- 
gether in  a  literary  sense,  but  in  a  sane  and 
common  sense  manner;  in  a  way  that  every 
one  can  understand;  by  proper  thought  and 
study  on  the  part  of  the  people,  with  a  desire 
to  accept  that  which  will  be  best  for  all  and 
will  make  life  worth  living ;  by  internationalism 
rather  than  nationalism;  by  eliminating  all 
causes  for  greed,  envy,  and  hate ;  by  doing  away 
with  the  idea  that  any  one  man  is  entitled  to 
get  and  control  all  that  he  can,  whether  it  be 
money,  lands,  chattels,  the  products  of  the  soil, 
or  the  food  of  the  people,  no  matter  how,  so 
long  as  he  does  not  use  force  and  keeps  within 
what  you  term  the  law  (that  is,  within  certain 
rules  and  regulations  that  you  have  made,  by 
which  he  is  controlled,  and  which  I  find  vary 
in  different  communities)  ;  by  dealing  with  one 
another  justly  and  fairly, — each  possessing  the 
same  rights  as  another,  and  no  more ;  by  teach- 
ing, adopting,  and  maintaining  a  system  under 
which  there  cannot  and  will  not  be  any  rich  or 
poor,  with  plenty  for  all  and  to  spare." 

"This,  undoubtedly,"  I  said,  "would  be  a 
very  desirable  condition  to  bring  about,  but 
that  is  impossible.  Any  man  is  entitled  to 
that  which  he  earns,  and  should  be  allowed  to 
keep  it  and  do  with  it  as  he  likes." 

"True,"  he  said,  "I  will  admit  all  that.  But 
is  he  entitled  to  take,  keep,  and  enjoy  that  which 


40  Beyond  the  Horizon 

some  one  else  has  earned?  You  say  that  a  con- 
dition such  as  I  have  described  is  impossible. 
I  am  going  to  surprise  you  by  saying  that  it  is 
not  only  possible,  but  I  can  take  you  to  a  coun- 
try in  which  such  a  condition  is  existing  to-day, 
and  has  existed  for  centuries;  and  if  you  are 
the  man  I  have  taken  you  to  be,  you  will  go 
with  me  and  visit  that  country. ' ' 

"What!"  I  exclaimed,  "a  country  where 
there  are  no  wars,  with  their  resulting  misery 
and  want;  no  poverty,  no  excessive  rich,  and 
no  miserable  poor?  You  seem  serious,  but  I 
know  you  are  not,  as  there  is  no  part  of  this 
world  that  we  are  not  familiar  with,  and  cer- 
tainly such  a  country  has  never  been  discov- 
ered." 

"Did  I  mention  this  world?"  Creon  asked 
very  quietly  and  earnestly.  And  if  I  had  been 
interested  before,  you  may  imagine  that  my 
interest  now  changed  to  excitement  and  won- 
der, when,  leaning  forward  and  taking  one  of 
my  hands  in  his,  he  looked  at  me  intently  and 
said:  "I  want  to  say  to  you  again  that  there 
is  such  a  country,  peopled  with  a  happy,  care- 
free, and  prosperous  people,  and  I  want  you  to 
visit  it  with  me.  It  is  the  country  of  my  birth, 
in  which  I  have  always  lived.  I  want  you  to 
mingle  with  its  people  and  to  study  their  social 
system.  I  desire  to  prove  to  you  that  a  condi- 
tion such  as  I  have  described  is  not  only  pos- 
sible but  real.    Go  with  me  and  see  for  yourself 


A  Look  Backward  41 

the  conditions  under  which  the  people  there  are 
living.  You  can  stay  one  month,  six  months, 
or  as  long  as  you  like.  I  will  guarantee  you 
a  pleasant  journey  and  a  safe  return.  Will  you 
go?" 

For  the  moment  I  could  not  answer.  The 
proposition  was  so  strange  and  seemed  so  im- 
possible that  I  could  not  comprehend  it  all. 

"When  and  how  will  we  make  the  journey?" 
I  at  length  inquired. 

"If  it  is  agreeable  to  you,  we  will  start  to- 
morrow, and  the  trip  will  be  an  easy  and  inex- 
pensive one.  Take  as  few  things  with  you  as 
possible.    A  hand-grip  will  do,  and  no  money." 

"I  will  go  with  you,"  I  replied,  full  of  won- 
der and  astonishment.  "Although  I  do  not 
know  where  this  country  of  which  you  speak  is 
located,  or  how  we  are  going  to  reach  it,  I  am 
convinced  I  will  not  regret  making  the  jour- 
ney. ' ' 

The  place  from  which  we  started  I  am  in 
honor  bound  not  to  reveal. 

During  our  journey  we  had  plenty  of  leisure, 
which  we  spent  in  reading  and  conversation; 
my  companion  being  one  of  the  most  agreeable 
and  interesting  conversationalists  it  had  ever 
been  my  good  fortune  to  meet.  And  the  sub- 
jects we  had  to  converse  upon,  and  the  many 
and  interesting  things  he  had  to  relate,  were  all 
to  me  new,  pleasing,  and  strange, — relating  to 
a  country  or  rather  a  world,  in  which  there  are 


42  Beyond  the  Horizon 

no  wars,  strife,  nor  misery;  no  greed,  hate, 
avarice,  nor  contentions ;  a  world  in  which  every 
individual  has  the  time  and  means  to  pursue  his 
pleasures  as  he  desires  in  a  peaceful,  quiet 
manner;  where  all  are  upon  an  equal  footing 
and  without  restraint;  where  contentment  and 
happiness  reign  supreme,  and  where  man's  in- 
humanity to  man  is  unknown ;  a  world  of  plenty 
and  to  spare;  where  there  are  no  rich  and  no 
poor,  yet  where  each  and  all  possess  greater 
riches  than  the  greatest  potentate  of  whom  I 
have  ever  heard  or  read. 

And  this  country  I  was  going  to  visit.  I  was 
to  see  it  with  my  own  eyes,  mingle  with  its 
people,  share  in  their  sports  and  pleasures,  and 
study  their  social  system  and  condition  to  my 
heart's  content.  To  this,  to  me  a  new  world  I 
was  journeying, — to  one  of  the  planets  of  the 
universe,  peopled  with  human  beings,  similar 
to  that  which  I  had  so  recently  left:  a  planet 
of  about  the  same  size  as  my  own  world,  going 
through  space  under  the  same  conditions ;  with 
the  same  sun  to  give  it  light  and  heat,  and  a 
like  moon  to  illuminate  its  nights;  with  a  cor- 
responding life,  human  and  animal ;  with  earth 
and  water,  fields  and  trees,  cities  and  villages, 
homes  and  farms;  with  mountains,  hills,  and 
vales,  lakes  and  rivers,  fields  and  forests ;  with 
its  works  of  art,  and  educational  and  other 
public  buildings;  with  its  social  and  industrial 


A  Look  Backward  43 

life  flowing  along  with  the  years  and  centuries. 
Yet  on  this  planet  there  dwelt  a  people  with  a 
social  condition  to  our  world  unknown  and  un- 
heard of. 

Here  was  a  country  where  all  are  not  only 
born  free  and  equal,  but  so  remain  while  life 
lasts, — a  country  without  a  ruler;  without  class 
or  social  distinction ;  where  the  equal  enjoyment 
of  life,  liberty,  and  happiness  is  given  to  all. 
A  country  without  a  form  of  government,  ac- 
cording to  our  standard,  yet  with  a  system  of 
government  that  has  existed  for  thousands  of 
years,  solid  and  indissoluble, — a  system  based 
upon  reason,  intelligence,  equality,  and  a  just 
regard  for  human  rights,  where  the  brother- 
hood of  man  is  recognized  as  the  first  principle 
of  good  government;  a  government  looking  to 
and  providing  for  the  welfare,  happiness,  and 
greatest  good  of  all;  a  government  founded 
not  upon  the  theory  but  upon  the  fact  that  the 
products  of  the  land  and  water,  like  the  air 
the  people  breathe,  are  for  the  equal  use  and 
enjoyment  of  all,  and  sufficient,  when  properly 
used,  to  amply  supply  every  man,  woman,  and 
child  with  plenty;  yet  at  the  same  time  requir- 
ing that  every  person  shall  perform  his  or  her 
share,  and  work  not  for  self  alone  but  for  all. 

Was  it  any  wonder  that  I  could  not  realize  it 
all,  and  that  I  almost  reached  the  point  where 
I  began  to  doubt  my  own  existence  and  become 


44  Beyond  the  Horizon 

distrustful  of  the  reality  of  my  surroundings? 
At  times  I  wondered  if  I  were  not  under  some 
hypnotic  influence,  from  which  I  would  awake 
to  find  myself  back  upon  the  only  world  I  had 
known, — a  world  where  greed,  avarice,  strife, 
and  individual  ambition  predominate  and  are 
encouraged  as  the  means  by  which  so-called  suc- 
cess may  be  most  quickly  attained ;  where  men, 
and  even  women,  are  working  clay  and  night  to 
invent  and  manufacture  instruments,  great  and 
small,  for  the  taking  of  human  life  and  the 
destruction  of  cities,  villages,  and  homes ;  where 
the  fathers  of  families  are  engaged  in  killing 
and  mutilating  other  fathers  of  families,  and 
children  are  taught  that  this  condition  is  right, 
that  for  this  purpose  human  beings  are  created ; 
where  hate  and  cruelty  are  encouraged,  to  kill 
and  be  killed  is  called  patriotism,  and  brutality 
is  honored  and  enthroned;  where  men  are  col- 
lected in  vast  numbers,  instruments  of  destruc- 
tion placed  in  their  hands,  and  ordered  to  go 
forth  and  kill,  maim,  and  destroy  to  the  utter- 
most. 

A  world  in  which  millions  of  men, — the  best 
in  the  land, — at  the  will  of  a  few  clothed  with 
powers  of  government  are  furnished  with  every 
weapon  of  death  that  the  minds  of  man  have 
been  able  to  invent  and  engaged  in  the  awful 
work  of  destruction;  where  men's  heads  are 
crushed  with  clubbed  muskets,  pieces  of  steel 


A  Look  Backivard  45 

thrust  through  their  bodies,  their  bones  broken 
and  bodies  mutilated  with  shells  and  bullets, 
their  limbs  severed  and  backs  broken;  where 
men  are  trampled  upon  and  crushed,  and  their 
mangled  and  torn  bodies  left  forgotten  and  un- 
cared  for  upon  the  sward,  in  the  grain  fields, 
under  the  trees,  by  the  hedges  and  highways, 
and  in  the  ditches  which  they  had  themselves 
dug,  in  order  that  they  might  have  an  advantage 
in  killing  and  destroying,  and  which  were  des- 
tined to  become  their  shallow  graves ;  where 
each  man  prays  to  his  Maker  for  the  power  and 
means  to  kill,  mutilate,  and  destroy  the  other; 
where  cries  of  hate  and  coarse  oaths  are  the 
answers  to  appeals  for  mercy,  and  brutal  laugh- 
ter mingles  with  the  groans  of  the  dying;  where 
mercy,  sympathy  and  brotherly  love  have  fled, 
and  hate,  anger,  and  brutality  reign.  A  world 
of  war,  where  the  fiery  imps  of  the  inferno  are 
let  loose,  and  where  fathers,  husbands,  and  sons 
are  transformed  into  demons,  whose  only  de- 
sire is  to  kill  not  beasts  of  prey  but  men, — men 
with  wives  and  families  depending  upon  them 
for  support ;  whose  wives  and  mothers  are  pray- 
ing for  their  safe  return  to  a  home  that  will  be 
made  desolate  without  them.  A  world  in  which 
a  few  may  live  in  luxury  in  the  midst  of  want 
and  misery,  and  where  many  go  hungry  in  the 
midst  of  plenty;  and  all  by  reason  of  the  im- 
proper training  and  education  of  its  people ;  all 


46  Beyond  the  Horizon 

because  of  ignorance,  prejudice,  and  greed, — a 
greed  fostered  and  encouraged  by  the  mistaken 
idea  that  man  is  entitled  to  keep  for  himself, 
and  to  take  from  his  fellow-men,  all  that  he 
can,  regardless  of  the  hardships  and  miseries 
that  others  may  suffer  thereby. 


CHAPTER  III 


THE  END  OF  THE  FLIGHT 


After  completing  his  observations,  as  men- 
tioned in  the  beginning,  and  satisfying  himself 
regarding  our  location  in  space,  Creon  informed 
me  that  the  (to  me)  new  world  that  we  were 
seeking  was  now  in  sight,  and  that  our  journey 
would  soon  be  ended.  Being  anxious  to  see  the 
object  of  our  destination,  which  had  been  con- 
tinually in  my  mind  for  some  time,  I  at  once 
went  to  one  of  the  front  outlooks  and  was  sur- 
prised to  see  what  seemed  to  be  a  large  ball 
moving  through  space  in  our  direction,  and 
which,  as  I  continued  to  watch  it,  appeared  to 
gradually  increase  in  size  as  it  approached. 

As  we  were  now  within  the  gravitational  in- 
fluence of  this  planet,  our  motive  power  was 
turned  off,  except  sufficient  to  enable  us  to 
maintain  our  course,  and  keep  the  car  in  its 
proper  position  and  under  control.  In  less  than 
an  hour  we  entered  into  the  atmosphere  of  this 
planet,  and  that  which  I  had  at  first  observed 
as  a  large  ball,  traveling  through  space  and 
growing  in  size,  was  now  beneath  us, — a  huge 
world,  toward  which  we  were  descending;  al- 

47 


48  Beyond  the  Horizon 

though  to  my  unaccustomed  eyes  it  appeared  to 
be  coming  toward  us  at  a  terrific  rate  of  speed. 

After  descending  to  within  one  mile,  as  I 
judged,  from  this  earth,  Creon,  by  some  ma- 
nipulation of  the  machinery,  stopped  our 
descent,  and  after  taking  observations  through 
some  glasses,  changed  our  course  to  the  right. 
He  also  partially  turned  off  the  motive  power, 
so  that  we  maintained  a  speed  of  about  a  hun- 
dred miles  an  hour ;  and  handing  me  the  glasses, 
with  the  request  that  I  inform  him  as  soon  as 
I  should  observe  a  mountain  range  with  three 
distinct  peaks,  the  center  one  being  somewhat 
higher  than  the  others,  he  busied  himself  with 
getting  together  his  personal  effects,  opened 
two  or  three  of  the  glass  outlooks,  and  with- 
drew the  bolts  and  bars  fastening  the  heavy 
steel  door  by  which  we  had  entered, — all  with 
as  little  concern  as  if  he  were  about  to  leave 
his  hotel. 

This  new  world  now  seemed  to  be  passing  in 
review  beneath  us,  and  with  the  glasses  I  could 
distinctly  observe  it  in  detail.  That  part  over 
which  we  were  passing  was  for  the  most  part 
a  densely  populated  country,  with  cities  scat- 
tered here  and  there,  but  none  of  any  consider- 
able size,  or  closely  built.  All  the  buildings  had 
ample  grounds,  which  were  well  kept  and 
planted  in  gardens,  shrubbery,  and  trees,  pro- 
ducing a  pleasing,  prosperous,  and  comfortable 
appearance. 


The  End  of  the  Flight  49 

One  thing  that  particularly  impressed  me  was 
that,  so  far  as  I  could  see,  none  of  the  cities 
over  which  we  passed  had  any  business  centers. 
There  were  here  and  there  large,  substantial 
buildings  that  appeared  to  have  architectural 
beauty,  and  also  huge  buildings  that  had  the 
appearance  of  being  warehouses,  but  of  large 
stores  and  office  buildings  there  were  none.  The 
country  over  which  we  passed  was  in  a  high 
state  of  cultivation,  and  the  farms  and  fields 
were  small  in  the  greater  number  of  instances. 
The  houses  in  the  country  appeared  to  be  very 
much  the  same  as  those  in  the  cities,  and  I 
noticed  that  the  buildings,  lawns,  trees,  and 
shrubbery  had  the  same  neat  and  well-kept  ap- 
pearance. Highways,  with  hedges  and  trees 
growing  on  either  side,  extended  in  every  direc- 
tion. Some  of  these  highways  were  much  wider 
than  others,  with  a  space  in  the  center  upon 
which  grass,  trees,  and  shrubbery  were  grow- 
ing, and  through  the  center  of  this  space  I  ob- 
served cars,  resembling  our  trolley  cars,  pass- 
ing back  and  forth.  People  were  working  in  the 
fields  and  traveling  along  the  highways. 
Horses,  cattle,  and  other  domestic  animals  were 
grazing  in  the  pastures.  Life,  and  busy  life, 
was  everywhere  visible. 

In  passing  over  several  rivers  and  lakes  I 
observed  many  boats  and  craft  of  various  kinds 
and  sizes  plying  back  and  forth,  but  what  kind 
of  motive  power  was  used  in  their  propulsion  I 


50  Beyond  the  Horizon 

was  unable  to  determine.  Upon  one  lake  of  con- 
siderable size  there  was  a  large  number  of  sail- 
boats and  launches,  and  a  crowd  of  people  was 
gathered  upon  the  shore.  As  we  passed  over  it, 
a  race  between  several  of  the  sailboats  was  just 
being  finished,  and  I  could  see  through  the 
glasses  the  crowd  surge  back  and  forth,  and  for 
the  moment  their  cheers  and  shouts,  mingled 
with  strains  of  music,  floated  faintly  up  to  us. 

In  all  the  cities  and  villages  there  were 
numerous  parks  and  places  for  outdoor  games 
and  sports,  and  in  nearly  all  of  these  parks 
there  were  many  people,  sports  of  some  kind 
being  in  progress  in  the  greater  number  of 
these  public  grounds.  The  nature  of  these 
g,  nies  I,  from  my  point  of  observation,  was 
unable  to  determine;  although,  judging  from 
the  many  horses  on  the  field,  in  some  instances, 
I  concluded  that  they  played  a  prominent  part 
in  the  sports.  The  higher  hills  were  all  clothed 
with  forests,  and  there  was  usually  more  or 
Less  timber  around  the  lakes  and  along  the 
rivers.  A  more  beautiful  and  pleasing  coun- 
try to  look  upon  one  could  never  expect  to  see. 
Its  principal  beauty,  however,  consisted  in  its 
development  under  the  hand  of  man.  Here  was 
a  country  made  beautiful  by  man,  and  made 
to  produce  to  its  uttermost  for  his  needs  and 
pleasures. 

I  had  become  so  interested  in  observing  this 
panorama  passing  beneath  me  that  I  had  for- 


The  End  of  the  Flight  51 

gotten  to  keep  an  outlook  as  requested  by  my 
companion,  and  had  also  failed  to  notice  that 
the  day  was  drawing  to  a  close,  until  I  suddenly 
realized  that  the  sun  was  setting  and  darkness 
was  gathering  over  the  villages  and  fields  be- 
low. There  had  been  a  change  in  the  landscape 
over  which  we  were  passing,  it  being  somewhat 
broken,  with  less  evidence  of  habitation,  and 
after  passing  over  a  stretch  of  country,  which 
apparently  was  utilized  for  the  grazing  of  stock, 
I  observed  that  the  country  beyond  was  covered 
with  forest.  In  looking  through  my  glasses  to 
see  if  I  could  ascertain  its  extent,  I  discovered 
that  we  were  approaching  a  range  of  moun- 
tains, and  the  three  peaks  for  which  Creon  had 
requested  me  to  watch.  The  speed  of  the  car 
was  now  slackened,  and  the  matter  of  landing 
was  soon  and  easily  accomplished  by  slowly 
settling  down  to  the  ground. 

Upon  alighting  from  the  car,  I  could  see  by 
the  dim  light  yet  remaining  that  we  had  landed 
in  a  small  level  meadow  of  not  more  than  an 
acre  in  extent,  surrounded  on  three  sides  by 
high  perpendicular  walls,  almost,  in  fact,  wholly 
surrounded,  as  there  was  only  a  small  opening 
at  one  end,  so  narrow  that  it  appeared  only  a 
mere  crevice.  I  was  trying  to  satisfy  myself 
whether  our  landing  place  wTas  the  work  of 
nature  or  of  the  titanic  hand  of  a  gigantic  race, 
when  my  companion  broke  the  silence  by  an- 
nouncing : 


52  Beyond  the  Horizon 

1  'Time,  two  hundred  and  forty-nine  hours, 
twenty-four  minutes." 

That  was  the  time  that  it  had  taken  us  to 
travel  from  the  world  that  I  had  always  be- 
lieved was  the  only  one  to  this,  the  new  world 
that  I  had  been  so  interested  in  observing  for 
the  past  few  hours.  A  trip  from  one  of  the 
planets  of  the  universe  to  another  in  a  little 
over  ten  days, — from  the  earth  to  one  of  its 
stars !    But  to  which  one  I  do  not  know. 


CHAPTER  IV 


GOLD   A   USELESS   THING 


It  is  said  that  "truth  is  stranger  than  fic- 
tion," and  when  I  stop  to  consider  fully  all 
that  I  am  about  to  relate  concerning  that  world 
that  I  visited  and  its  people  with  whom  I  asso- 
ciated, I  am  forcibly  reminded  of  that  well- 
known  adage.  Nevertheless,  I  will  describe 
that  world  and  its  people,  and  especially  their 
social  system  and  form  of  government, — if  it 
can  be  so  called, — just  as  I  saw  it  without  any 
concealment  or  exaggeration,  and  regardless 
of  whether  they  conform  to  my  ideas  or  the 
ideas  of  my  readers  upon  those  subjects.  Un- 
less I  do  that  this  story  would  be  a  vain  and 
useless  thing. 

That,  without  gold, — or  what  we  term  wealth, 
— men  and  women  can  enjoy  all  the  comforts, 
pleasures,  and  even  the  luxuries  that  make  life 
worth  the  living  will  no  doubt  seem  impossible 
to  many,  and  when  I  go  further  and  state  that 
under  the  system  that  I  there  found  in  opera- 
tion poverty  and  want  were  unknown  my  read- 
ers will  say  that  such  a  condition  is  inconceiv- 
able, and  when,  as  I  proceed,  it  appears  that 

53 


54  Beyond  the  Horizon 

war,  with  all  its  horrors, — the  death,  misery, 
and  suffering  that  it  inflicts, — is  never  even 
thought  of  by  those  people,  they  will  declare 
that  I  am  dealing  with  the  impossible. 

I  will  admit  that  there  was  a  time  when  I 
would  have  entertained  the  same  opinions,  and 
would  promptly  have  pronounced  such  asser- 
tions the  phantoms  of  a  dreamy  mind ;  but  what 
one  has  seen  with  his  own  eyes  he  is  bound  to 
believe,  regardless  of  the  opinions  of  others; 
and  if  all  doubters  could  make  that  journey  and 
mingle  with  the  inhabitants  of  that  world  as  I 
have,  they  would  no  longer  consider  that  gold 
is  necessary  to  human  enjoyment;  they  would 
no  longer  believe  that  war,  poverty,  and  want 
are  the  natural  inheritance  of  mankind  and 
must  therefore  be  endured.  And  I  am  confident 
that,  as  I  describe  it  all,  each  and  all  of  my 
readers  will  say  that  it  would  be  a  delightful 
world  in  which  to  live,  and  in  order  to  do  so 
they  would  be  willing  to  perform  their  part  at 
all  times ;  and  they  may  perhaps  wonder  if  there 
is  not  some  way  by  which  they  can  reach  it  and 
become  one  of  those  contented,  happy  and  care- 
free people.  Even  though  they  may  not  feel 
that  way,  at  any  rate  they  will  stop  and  wonder 
if  all  the  cares  and  perplexities,  the  disappoint- 
ments and  annoyances,  the  burdens  that  they 
are  required  to  carry,  are  after  all  really  neces- 
sary; whether  they  are  not  the  product  of  a 
complicated    and    cumbersome    social    system, 


Gold  a  Useless  Thing  55 

founded  upon  the  mistaken  idea  that  every  one 
is  entitled  to  acquire  and  keep  all  that  he  can, 
regardless  of  the  necessities  of  others ;  and  hav- 
ing allowed  their  mind  to  carry  them  that  far, 
they  may  reach  the  conclusion  that  a  great  im- 
provement over  present  earthly  conditions  is 
possible.  Yet,  when  they  arrive  at  that  con- 
clusion they  may  reach  that  "stumbling  block'' 
over  which  so  many  have  fallen,  and  say  that  it 
could  be  done,  were  it  not  for  the  perversity  of 
human  nature. 

But  under  those  circumstances  the  best  way 
to  surmount  that  obstacle  is  to  take  a  minute, 
personal  inventory,  so  as  to  have  an  average 
specimen  of  human  nature  to  work  on,  and  if 
that  inventory  proves  satisfactory,  there  is  no 
foundation  for  believing  that  the  perversity  of 
human  nature  is  the  great  obstacle  that  pre- 
vents a  sociological  change  for  the  better.  When 
any  man  or  woman  reaches  the  conclusion  that 
morally,  socially,  or  spiritually  he,  or  she,  is 
better  than  his  fellow-kind,  the  conclusion  is 
usually  based  upon  a  false  premise,  and  the 
sooner  the  delusion  is  cast  aside  the  better  it 
will  "be  for  that  person  and  those  with  whom 
he  may  associate. 

But  we  have  traveled  far  from  the  car  in 
which  we  made  the  journey  to  that  world  I  am 
going  to  describe,  and  must  return  or  we  may 
not  be  able  to  find  the  pocket  in  the  mountain 


56  Beyond  the  Horizon 

in  which  we  alighted  after  our  flight  through 
space. 

Our  first  night  in  that  new  world  we  spent 
in  our  car,  at  the  point  where  we  had  landed, — 
I  will  not  say  "slept,"  since  for  me  sleep,  for 
the  greater  part  of  the  night,  was  impossible. 
I  was  more  excited  and  restless  than  when  we 
had  first  started  on  our  journey.  The  thought 
kept  passing  through  my  mind  that  I  was  not 
in  a  new  country  but  in  a  new  world,— one  of 
the  stars  of  the  universe  that  I  had  no  doubt 
watched  with  interest  as  it  twinkled  down  at 
me  as  I  lay  by  my  campfire  during  some  of  my 
travels  upon  my  world  in  the  past.  The  door 
and  outlooks  were  open,  and  a  cool,  refreshing 
breeze  passed  through  the  car,  in  which  the 
fragrance  of  the  forest  was  especially  noticeable 
after  our  days  of  close  confinement. 

Some  time  after  midnight  the  moon,  full  and 
round,  on  its  journey  reached  mid-heaven  and 
flooded  with  silvery  light  the  pocket  in  which 
we  lay.  I  could  no  longer  remain  inactive,  and 
quietly  going  outside,  stood  for  some  time  con- 
templating the  beauties  of  the  night  and  specu- 
lating upon  the  unreality  of  my  phenomenal 
adventure.  And  as  I  stood  there  alone  in  the 
silence  of  the  night  a  feeling  of  awe  came  over 
me  that  I  could  not  cast  aside.  I  could  compre- 
hend as  never  before  the  immensity  of  the  uni- 
verse,— the  vastness  of  space.  I  could  fully 
realize  that  the  stars  with  which  the  heavens 


Gold  a  Useless  Thing  57 

were  studded  were  planets, — real  worlds, — 
probably  teeming  with  life,  and  each  perform- 
ing its  part  in  that  great  planetary  programme 
that  commenced  with  the  beginning  of  time  and 
will  continue  on  forever;  and  then  I  thought 
that,  in  comparison  with  it  all,  how  infinitely 
small  is  one  individual  man. 

That  thought,  however,  not  appealing  to  my 
fancy,  I  commenced  a  search  of  the  stars  to  see 
if  I  could  not  in  some  way  decide  which  one 
of  them  was  the  world  I  had  so  recently  left, — 
my  world, — and  finally  decided  upon  one  that 
seemed  to  be  a  little  nearer  and  brighter  than 
the  others.  I  then  seated  myself  in  the  door- 
way of  the  car  and  soon  after  became  oblivious 
to  my  surroundings,  in  sleep. 

When  r  awoke,  the  sun  was  shining  on  the 
tops  of  the  cliffs  by  which  we  were  surrounded, 
and  not  more  than  fifty  feet  from  me  were  two 
large  animals  gazing  in  wonder  at  our  car,  but 
apparently  paying  no  attention  whatever  to  me. 
As  soon  as  I  recovered  from  my  surprise  and 
momentary  alarm,  I  saw  that  they  were  a  cou- 
ple of  beautiful  elk,  and  my  hunting  spirit  was 
immediately  aroused.  But,  remembering  with 
regret  that  there  were  no  weapons  in  the  car, 
I  could  only  remain  quiet  and  watch  them  as 
they  carefully  went  on  with  their  inspection. 
After  satisfying  their  curiosity,  they  slowly 
crossed  the  small  meadow  and  disappeared  in 


58  Beyond  the  Horizon 

the  canyon  or  small  opening  through  the  cliffs 
by  which  they  must  have  entered. 

I  had  become  so  absorbed  in  watching  the 
animals  that  I  had  not  noticed  that  Creon  had 
prepared  our  morning  meal  until  he  announced 
that  our  last  meal  to  be  eaten  in  the  car  for 
some  time  was  ready. 

As  soon  as  we  had  finished  our  breakfast  we 
placed  the  car  in  its  hangar,  which  had  been 
constructed  from  a  cavern  in  the  cliffs,  and  then 
started  on  our  journey  down  the  mountain ;  fol- 
lowing a  footpath  for  some  five  or  six  miles, 
until  we  reached  a  highway  that  continued  along 
the  bank  of  a  small  river. 

Although  in  an  unbroken  forest,  this  was  a 
broad  and  well-kept  road,  with  macadam  sur- 
face and  cuts  and  fills  to  maintain  a  uniform 
grade.  The  timber  was  mostly  deciduous,  with 
here  and  there  some  pines,  hemlock,  fir,  and 
spruce,  and  reminded  me  of  a  forest  in  the  foot- 
hills of  the  Appalachian  Mountains.  It  was  an 
ideal  June  day;  the  trees  were  in  full  foliage, 
and  wild  flowers  were  blooming  along  the  path- 
way. Game  and  song  birds,  rabbits  and  squir- 
rels, were  everywhere  present,  and  we  often  saw 
deer  and  elk.  All  the  animals  and  birds  were 
remarkably  tame,  paying  scarcely  any  attention 
to  us  as  we  passed  along. 

"Do  you  know  why  these  animals  and  birds 
are  not  afraid  of  men, — why  they  do  not  scurry 
from    sight    upon    our    approach?"    inquired 


Gold  a  Useless  Thing  59 

Creon,  as  I  stopped  to  admire  a  beautiful  ani- 
mal that  was  leisurely  crossing  the  path  a  short 
distance  ahead  of  us.  "It  is  because  here  men 
do  not  chase  them  with  dogs  and  guns.  Dogs 
we  have  as  pets  and  companions,  but  of  fire- 
arms there  are  none,  we  have  no  use  for  them. 
In  this  country  there  is  not  one  instrument 
made  for  the  destruction  of  men  or  beasts. 
Without  weapons  to  kill  and  destroy,  the  de- 
sire to  kill  vanishes.  Hunting,  killing,  and 
destroying  are  not  the  sport  and  enjoyment  of 
a  truly  civilized  and  enlightened  race." 

On  the  bank  of  the  river,  where  the  path  we 
had  followed  joined  the  highway,  was  a  place 
used  for  camping  and  picnics.  Some  tables 
and  benches  had  been  constructed  beneath  the 
trees  and  a  stone  contrivance,  something  like 
an  open  fireplace  for  cooking  and  preparing 
meals,  was  near  the  river.  It  was  a  beautiful 
place,  with  green  banks  gradually  sloping  to  the 
river,  shaded  with  large  and  beautiful  maple 
and  oak  trees.  Here  we  lay  down  on  the  bank 
for  a  short  rest,  to  enjoy  the  cool  shade  and 
listen  to  the  murmur  of  the  water  mingling 
with  the  songs  of  the  birds.  It  was  a  restful, 
peaceful  spot.  A  deer  stood  knee-deep  in  the 
water  only  a  few  yards  away.  A  couple  of 
squirrels  were  chasing  one  another  around  and 
up  and  down  a  neighboring  tree;  a  kingfisher 
came  slowly  up  the  river,  just  skimming  its 
surface  and,  perching  upon  a  limb  overhang- 


60  Beyond  the  Horizon 

ing  the  water,  sat  motionless,  watching  for  his 
dinner.  The  rap-pe-tap-tap  of  a  woodpecker 
upon  a  hollow  tree  in  the  distance  floated 
through  the  woods  almost  unnoticed  and  seemed 
to  fill  in  as  a  part  of  the  surroundings. 

My  companion  had  been  in  high  spirits  all 
the  morning,  but  although  the  day  was  fine,  the 
scenery  beautiful,  and  the  walk  through  the 
woods  pleasant,  after  being  confined  so  long  in 
the  car,  I  was  depressed  and  worried.  I  could 
not  get  over  the  feeling  that  I  was  in  a  new 
world  among  strangers,  without  means  to  meet 
the  necessities  of  life.  While  I  had  my  gold 
with  me,  I  felt  that  I  had  a  protector,  and  the 
leaving  it  behind  caused  me  much  trouble  and 
concern.  During  our  walk  I  said  very  little, 
and  the  more  I  thought  of  my  situation  the 
more  downhearted  and  depressed  I  became,  un- 
til by  the  time  we  stopped  to  rest,  my  feelings 
had  reached  the  point  where  I  had  begun  to 
suspect  my  companion  of  some  ulterior  motive 
in  bringing  me  to  a  strange  land  without  money 
or  means.  True,  he  had  told  me  that  I  would 
not  need  money,  and  that  if  I  had  any  it  would 
be  a  useless  thing;  nevertheless,  I  was  unable 
to  comprehend  such  a  condition,  and  could  not 
understand  why  with  gold  I  would  not  be  able 
to  procure  anything  I  desired.  How  I  was 
to  get  along  without  it  was  unthinkable. 

Noticing  my  dejected  and  worried  appear- 
ance,   which   must   have   been   very   apparent, 


Gold  a  Useless  Thing  61 

Creon  inquired  if  I  were  ill;  as  from  his  view 
of  life,  sickness  and  death  were  the  only  causes 
for  worry  and  unhappiness.  Upon  my  answer- 
ing him  in  the  negative,  he  looked  at  me  intently 
for  a  moment  and  said: 

"  Oh !  I  see, — you  are  homesick.  Well,  if  that 
is  the  case,  you  can  go  back  at  any  time  you 
wish,  but  I  would  advise  you  most  sincerely 
not  to  be  in  too  great  a  hurry,  as  you  have  much 
to  see  and  to  learn,  if  you  will  remain  for  a 
time." 

I  then  explained  the  cause  of  my  troubled 
mind  and  said  to  him: 

''I  have  learned  that  gold  is  the  one  friend 
to  keep  and  rely  upon,  for  so  long  as  you  pos- 
sess it  your  other  friends  stand  by  you,  but 
without  it  most  of  them  desert  you.  With  gold 
in  plenty  your  friends  are  legion  and  the  path- 
way of  life  smooth;  you  are  looked  up  to  and 
respected  by  all,  the  best  there  is  to  be  had  is 
yours;  the  rich  and  the  great  are  pleased  to 
call  you  friend,  and  all  others  are  ever  ready  to 
do  your  bidding;  you  are  sought  after,  wined, 
and  dined  and  the  fairest  of  the  fair  are  proud 
of  your  company  and  recognition.  But  with- 
out this  magic  yellow  metal  your  life  is  hard, 
without  companions,  and  without  friends,  and 
you  may  reach  the  state, — as  many  others  have, 
— where  you  will  be  without  a  place  to  lay  your 
head  or  a  crumb  to  eat,  and  left  to  die  a  miser- 
able death,  unnoticed  and  alone.     With  gold, 


62  Beyond  the  Horizon 

life's  needs  and  pleasures  are  at  all  times  ob- 
tainable, while  without  it  misery  and  want  are 
sure  to  follow.  Here  I  am  millions  of  miles 
from  home,  with  only  the  clothes  I  have  on 
and  without  a  dollar  in  my  pocket.  How  can 
any  one  be  cheerful  under  such  circumstances'?" 

For  fully  a  minute  Creon  gazed  at  me  with  a 
look  of  sadness  and  pity  that  I  shall  never  for- 
get. Slowly  rising  to  his  feet,  he  let  his  eyes 
rest  for  a  moment  upon  the  deer  still  standing 
in  the  water  and  at  his  mate  coming  down  the 
river  bank,  then,  turning  to  me,  with  the  sad- 
ness gone  from  his  face  and  in  its  place  the 
same  happy,  care-free  expression  that  first  at- 
tracted my  attention,  even  before  I  had  formed 
his  acquaintance,  he  said: 

"You  have  shown  what  training,  education, 
and  environment  will  do;  they  will  cause  a 
whole  nation, — yes,  a  whole  race  of  mankind, — 
to  fully  believe  that  a  yellow  metal  taken  from 
the  earth,  without  any  medicinal  virtue,  fur- 
nishes the  sole  means  for  life's  needs  and  en- 
joyments. That  it  has  the  power  of  sustaining 
life  itself,  and,  without  it,  life  is  not  worth  the 
living.  On  account  of  that  belief  you,  a  man 
of  intelligence  beyond  the  average,  surrounded 
by  the  beauties  of  nature,  on  a  glorious  day, 
with  all  animal  and  bird  life  full  of  peace  and 
joy,  trusting  in  their  Maker,  are  unhappy,  wor- 
ried, and  miserable  just  because  you  have  left 
behind  you  a  few  hundreds  of  pieces  of  this 


Gold  a  Useless  Thing  63 

wonderful  thing,  which  you  and  your  fellow- 
men  have  been  taught  to  worship.  In  the  world 
you  are  in  now,  the  training,  education,  and 
environment  of  mankind  have  been  different. 
The  people  are  no  longer  in  a  state  of  barbar- 
ism; they  have  reached  a  state  of  civilization 
and  enlightenment.  You  know  what  a  world 
is  in  which  the  belief  you  have  just  expressed 
exists, — where  gold  is  worshipped.  Come  with 
me,  meet  the  people  in  this  world,  mingle  with 
them,  and  learn  that  gold  is  not  necessary  to 
life,  to  happiness,  or  the  means  of  furnishing 
the  necessities  of  life,  but  is,  instead,  the  curse 
of  your  race,  and,  instead  of  being  the  friend 
you  think,  is  the  source  of  all  your  unhappiness. 

"A  man  thinks  as  he  is  trained  to  think;  as 
a  man  thinks,  so  is  the  man;  as  men  are,  so  is 
the  nation.  Some  of  your  people  realize  this 
and  are  trying  to  break  the  fetters  of  environ- 
ment by  which  they  are  bound,  and  have  been 
able  to  partially  free  themselves ;  the  recognized 
right  of  ownership,  the  right  to  have  and  to 
hold,  has  been  so  long  instilled  into  the  minds 
of  your  people  that  it  has  become  the  great 
obstacle  in  the  way  of  your  progress,  prosper- 
ity, and  happiness.  If  the  people  of  your  world 
could  once  and  for  all  surmount  that  obstacle, 
the  rest  would  be  easy. 

"You  cannot  by  force  compel  a  man  to  be- 
lieve in  this  or  in  that.  The  human  mind  can- 
not be  thus  controlled.    But  through  a  system 


64  Beyond  the  Horizon 

of  training  and  education  from  childhood,  cou- 
pled with  environment,  man  may  be  made  to 
embrace  any  belief,  or  accept  any  social  condi- 
tion. In  religon  he  may  be  a  Christian  or  a 
follower  of  Mahomet,  or  Confucius.  As  to 
political  government,  he  may  be  made  to  believe 
in  a  republic  or  a  monarchy.  He  may,  as  you 
know,  be  made  to  believe  in  and  accept  the  so- 
cial conditions  of  your  world  as  right  and 
proper,  or  he  may  be  made  to  see  and  believe 
that  the  system  that  you  will  find  here  is  the 
only  one  under  which  the  human  race  may  live 
in  peace,  contentment,  and  plenty." 

What  Creon  said,  and  his  frank,  earnest  man- 
ner in  saying  it,  convinced  me  that  I  had  no 
cause  for  apprehension,  and  I  immediately 
apologized  for  my  rudeness  and  distrust.  I 
also  informed  him  that  I  was  ready  to  proceed, 
and  had  no  desire  to  return  to  my  world  until 
I  had  seen  with  my  own  eyes  that  system  he 
had  so  interestingly  explained. 

"I  hoped  that  you  would,"  he  said.  "Down 
this  road  about  a  mile  you  will  come  in  contact 
with  this  system  for  the  first  time,  and  I  am 
sure  you  will  appreciate  it  when  you  fully  un- 
derstand it.  You  will  find  it  humane,  simple, 
and  effectual." 


CHAPTER  V 

ENTREE    INTO    THE    NEW    WORLD 

Before  going  out  into  that  world  and  min- 
gling with  its  people  I  was  fully  instructed  by 
Creon  regarding  the  habits  and  manners  of  the 
inhabitants;  their  industrial  methods,  educa- 
tional systems  and  social  customs ;  their  amuse- 
ments, and  their  manner  of  transacting  busi- 
ness, if  you  may  call  it  such.  But  I  soon  found 
that  even  then  I  must  have  appeared  strange 
and  sometimes,  I  fear,  uncouth  to  those  with 
whom  I  first  came  in  contact;  although  I  had 
always  mingled  in  what  we  call  the  best  so- 
ciety. 

One  of  the  things  that  my  instructor  tried  to 
impress  upon  my  mind  was  that  in  that  world 
there  was  no  money,  nor  any  necessity  for 
money,  and  that  everything  I  needed  was  free 
and  to  be  had  for  the  asking.  I,  of  course,  pro- 
tested against  this,  supposing  that,  as  his 
guest,  he  expected  to  provide  for  all  my  needs 
during  my  stay.  I  had,  however,  without  his 
knowing  it,  taken  quite  a  sum  of  gold  with  me; 
all  of  which  he  made  me  leave  in  the  car,  say- 
ing with  a  laugh: 

65 


66  Beyond  the  Horizon 

"It  will  be  perfectly  safe,  as  you  are  now 
in  a  country  where  gold  is  of  no  value  nor  of 
any  use  for  any  purpose,  as  you  will  soon  see 
and  appreciate." 

This  brought  to  my  mind  that  during  the 
time  I  had  known  Creon  he  always  had  plenty 
of  money,  with  which  he  was  very  liberal,  and 
I  was  curious  to  know  where  and  how  he  pro- 
cured it,  if  there  were  none  there.  When  we 
were  about  to  go  from  the  car  he  was  so  in- 
sistent that  I  leave  my  gold, — as  a  useless  thing 
to  take  with  me, — that  I  ventured  to  inquire 
how  he  procured  the  money  that  he  appeared 
to  have  in  plenty  when  in  a  country  where  it 
was  so  needed  for  comfort,  even  for  existence. 

"Naturally,"  he  said  with  a  smile,  "that 
would  seem  a  little  strange  to  you,  and  un- 
doubtedly requires  an  explanation  on  my  part." 

Then,  stepping  into  the  buffet  kitchen,  he 
removed  the  cover  from  a  large  jar,  and  re- 
quested me  to  examine  its  contents,  whereupon, 
to  my  surprise  I  found  that  it  contained  dia- 
monds, pearls,  and  other  stones  of  value,  most 
of  them  in  the  rough. 

"This,"  he  said,  "is  the  source  from  which 
I  procure  my  supply  of  funds  when  in  your 
world.  All  I  have  to  do  is  to  convert  as  many 
as  I  like  of  these  into  cash,  which  is  an  easy 
matter,  and  I  can  always  procure  more  when 
my  supply  becomes  exhausted.  In  this  world 
you  are  now  in  there  are  diamonds  and  other 


Entree  into  the  New  World  67 

precious  stones,  as  you  call  them,  and  as  they 
are  not  used  by  the  people  as  ornaments  or  in 
any  other  manner,  except  some  of  them  in  a 
mechanical  way,  they  are  of  no  more  use  than 
other  stones  and  pebbles.  The  wearing  of  or- 
naments such  as  earrings,  necklaces,  and  finger 
rings  by  your  people  is  another  evidence  that 
they  have  not  entirely  emerged  from  barbar- 
ism." 

One  thing  that  Creon  was  particular  in  im- 
pressing upon  my  mind  was  that  the  people  as- 
sociate with  one  another  upon  an  equal  basis. 
The  man  who  works  in  the  ditches,  on  the 
streets,  in  the  stables,  or  on  the  farm,  is  socially 
the  equal  of  any  one.  Those  that  serve  you  at 
table,  cook  your  food,  or  blacken  your  shoes, 
are  at  all  times  your  social  equals,  and  are  en- 
titled to  the  same  courtesies  and  the  same  con- 
sideration as  any  other  person.  That  for  one 
to  work  and  do  his  share  is  honorable,  no  mat- 
ter what  that  work  may  be,  so  long  as  it  is 
necessary  and  a  part  of  the  system.  All  whom 
I  met  possessed  a  frank,  courteous  and  agree- 
able manner,  and  greeted  me  with  an  air  of 
friendship  and  good  will  that  was  irresistible. 
In  meeting  and  conversing  with  the  people  it 
was  impossible  to  distinguish  those  whom  we 
call  laborers  and  mechanics  from  those  we 
term  professional  men  and  merchants.  All  were 
well  dressed,  with  the  appearance  of  being 
well  cared  for,  happy,  and  contented.     I  did 


68  Beyond  the  Horizon 

not  observe  any  person,  either  old  or  young, 
who  was  shabbily  dressed  and  ill  kept,  or  who 
had  a  careworn  and  disappointed  look.  Intel- 
ligence, refinement,  and  prosperity  were  every- 
where present,  and  a  more  noble  and  robust  set 
of  men,  or  more  beautiful  and  healthy  women, 
I  never  expect  to  see. 

Instead  of  a  government,  they  have  what  I 
should  call  a  system,  under  which  every  indi- 
vidual performs  his  share  towTard  maintaining 
[he  whole  and  receives  his  share  in  return,  and 
at  1  he  same  time  is  absolutely  free  and  indepen- 
dent. And,  although  he  owns  no  property,  as 
we  call  it,  not  even  the  house  in  which  he  lives, 
[he  table  upon  which  he  eats,  the  bed  in  which 
he  sleeps,  the  tools  with  which  he  works,  the 
horse  he  rides  or  drives,  yet  he  has  them  all 
and  knows  to  a  certainty  that  he  will  have  them 
so  long  as  he  has  need  of  them.  And,  although, 
if  he  be  a  tiller  of  the  soil,  the  food  that  he 
produces  no  more  belongs  to  him  than  it  does 
to  the  man  who  makes  his  clothes,  still,  he  is 
certain  that  he  will  always  have  food  in  plenty. 
And  under  this  system  every  one,  young  and 
old,  knows  that  so  long  as  he  does  his  share 
toward  maintaining  the  system  he  can  never  be 
in  want,  even  though  he  be  helpless  with  sick- 
ness or  useless  with  age;  never  be  without  a 
good,  well-furnished  house  in  which  to  reside, 
plenty  to  eat  and  to  wear,  free  libraries,  free 
music,  free  amusements,  and  free  everything 


Entree  into  the  New  World  69 

that  goes  to  make  up  life's  need  and  pleasures. 
And  not  only  that,  but  he  knows  that  he  will 
always  have  plenty  of  leisure  and  opportunity 
for  the  full  enjoyment  of  these  benefits, — all 
upon  a  broad  plan  of  equality  as  one  big  family 
working  together,  each  for  the  greatest  good  of 
all ;  not  under  a  system  where  one  may  be  rich 
and  living  in  luxury  to-day,  surrounded  by 
family  and  friends,  with  servants  to  do  his  bid- 
ding, and  to-morrow  be  poor,  friendless,  ill,  and 
cold,  without  either  a  crumb  to  eat  or  a  place 
to  lay  his  head. 

About  a  mile  down  the  road  from  where  we 
had  stopped  to  rest  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  we 
came  to  a  small  village  consisting  of  a  number 
of  dwellings,  a  schoolhouse,  a  public  building, 
hotel,  store,  stable,  and  a  few  small  houses.  The 
highway  here  formed  the  main  street  of  the 
village,  and  from  it  a  circular  driveway  led 
around  past  the  public  building,  hotel,  and  sta- 
ble, which  were  located  on  the  river  bank  some 
distance  back  from  the  main  street. 

The  space  between  the  main  street  and  these 
buildings  was  laid  out  as  a  park,  with  a  foun- 
tain and  bandstand  near  the  center,  and  seats 
here  and  there  under  the  trees.  The  dwellings 
were  surrounded  by  extensive  grounds,  which 
showed  careful  attention.  All  the  buildings,  in- 
cluding the  dwelling  houses,  were  principally 
constructed  of  stone,  brick,  or  cement,  and  pos- 
sessed originality  of  architectural  design  and 


70  Beyond  the  Horizon 

individuality  of  treatment.  The  hotel  was  be- 
tween the  public  building  and  the  stable,  and 
was  constructed  of  stone  and  brick,  with  broad 
verandas,  which  gave  it  a  cool,  comfortable,  and 
inviting  appearance.  One  of  the  verandas  ex- 
tended out  almost  over  the  river  and  was 
used  as  one  of  the  dining-rooms  when  desired. 

As  we  turned  into  the  driveway  a  dozen  or 
more  horses,  saddled  and  bridled,  were  being- 
led  from  the  stable  to  the  front  entrance  of  the 
hotel,  and  as  we  approached,  a  party  of  ladies 
and  gentlemen  in  riding  costume  came  out, 
mounted,  and  galloped  down  the  driveway  past 
us,  waving  a  merry  good-day  as  they  rode  by, — 
a  greeting  that  was  heartily  returned  by  my 
companion. 

From  the  well-kept  appearance  of  the  village 
and  its  surroundings,  the  style  of  the  hotel, 
the  dress  of  the  people,  and  the  smart,  up-to- 
date  appearance  of  the  riding  party,  I  con- 
cluded that  this  was  a  favorite  mountain  re- 
sort, where  no  one  except  the  servants  had  any- 
thing to  do  but  enjoy  life;  and  so  I  expressed 
myself  to  Creon,  who  simply  said: 

"Our  walk  and  the  fresh  air  have  given  me 
a  good  appetite;  and  as  it  is  now  a  little  past 
the  noon  hour,  wait  until  we  have  had  lunch, 
and  then  we  will  go  into  the  park,  and  you  may 
then  give  me  your  impressions  of  this  place  and 
the  people." 

Upon  entering  the  building,  I  found  that  the 


Entree  into  the  New  World  71 

interior  was  as  pleasing  as  the  exterior  and 
had  the  usual  appearance  of  a  first-class  sum- 
mer hotel  in  my  country.  Well-dressed  ladies 
and  gentlemen  were  about  the  rotunda  and  on 
the  verandas,  apparently  without  anything  to 
do  but  amuse  themselves.  Some  were  dressed 
in  riding  clothes,  and  one  party  had  tennis  rack- 
ets and  wore  costumes  suitable  for  that  game. 

We  passed  into  the  dining-room  overlooking 
the  river,  and  were  given  a  table  by  a  young 
lady  who  had  the  room  in  charge.  The  cook- 
ing and  service  were  excellent,  with  an  ample 
menu.  During  the  meal  my  companion  in- 
formed me  that  we  would  remain  here  until 
morning,  and  after  we  had  finished  our  meal 
he  would  see  about  rooms  for  the  night.  Al- 
though we  were  late,  a  number  of  guests  still 
lingered  over  their  meal,  and  no  one  seemed 
to  be  pressed  for  time. 

I  noticed  that  the  men  were  all  strong, 
healthy,  and  tanned,  showing  that  they  spent 
much  of  their  time  out  of  doors.  Their  con- 
versation ran  chiefly  to  outdoor  sports,  power 
plants,  and  forests.  And  from  all  I  could  un- 
derstand from  the  conversation  of  one  group 
at  a  table  near  ours,  I  gathered  that  they  were 
interested  in  an  extensive  electric  power  plant 
in  the  vicinity. 

After  we  had  finished  our  meal,  and  Creon 
had  arranged  for  our  rooms,  we  went  to  the 


72  Beyond  the  Horizon 

park,  where,   after  procuring  a  seat  by  our- 
selves, ruy  companion  remarked: 

"Well,  tell  me  what  you  think  of  this  place 
and  the  people,  from  what  you  have  thus  far 
observed. ' ' 

Before  answering  I  let  my  eyes  take  in  the 
surroundings,  and  made  a  mental  note  of  what 
I  saw.  There  were  a  number  of  people  in  the 
park, — some  reading,  others  engaged  in  con- 
versation ;  all  were  well  dressed  and  apparently 
were  people  of  leisure  and  means.  In  the  ten- 
nis courts, — of  which  there  were  several, — 
games  of  tennis  were  being  played,  and  quite 
a  crowd  was  occupied  in  interestedly  watching 
the  games.  Several  smart  turnouts,  with  beau- 
tiful, highbred  horses  and  fine  harnesses  were 
visible,  while  in  the  carriages  were  ladies  and 
gentlemen  enjoying  an  afternoon  drive.  A  few 
men  were  working  around  the  park,  looking 
after  the  lawn,  shrubbery,  and  flowers.  These 
and  the  employees  about  the  hotel  and  stable 
were  the  only  persons  who  seemed  to  be  occu- 
pied with  work. 

' '  Surely, ' '  I  thought,  ' '  this  is  a  resort  where 
the  people  of  wealth  come  to  enjoy  the  summer 
months,  away  from  the  heat  and  noise  of  the 
city.  A  delightful  place  it  is ! — and,  if  I  am  not 
mistaken,  an  expensive  one,  also.  This  talk  of 
Creon's  about  there  being  no  ownership  of 
property,  no  wealth,  and  of  every  one's  doing 
his  share,  as  well  as  that  wonderful  system  of 


Entree  into  the  New  World  73 

his  that  he  has  told  me  so  much  about,  is  non- 
sense. I  will  cut  a  pretty  figure  here, — I  will, — 
without  a  cent  to  my  name.  It  only  takes  a 
glance  at  my  surroundings  to  disprove  the 
whole  thing." 

And  all  my  faith,  my  hopes,  and  the  ideals 
that  I  had  built  up  were  once  more  destroyed. 
Then,  turning  to  my  companion,  I  said : 

"  I  do  not  know  what  to  think,  or  what  to  say. 
To  me  it  is  plain  that  this  is  a  place  where  peo- 
ple of  means  and  leisure  come  to  spend  their 
money  and  enjoy  themselves.  That  the  people 
we  see  are  men  and  women  of  wealth  and  re- 
finement, who  have  not  been  burdened  with  the 
ordinary  cares  of  life,  and  are  here  living  a 
life  of  pleasure,  no  one  can  question.  I  have 
seen  too  many  places  of  this  kind  to  be  mis- 
taken. From  what  you  have  told  me  of  this 
world,  this  is  the  one  place  I  did  not  expect  to 
find.  You  have  tried  to  instil  into  my  mind 
that  in  this  world  all  men  are  equal ;  that  there 
are  no  idle  rich;  that  here  none  work  and  toil 
that  others  may  live  in  idleness  and  luxury,  and 
yet,  the  first  time  I  come  in  contact  with  your 
people  I  find  the  very  opposite  condition  to  ex- 
ist. 

"Look  at  the  men  working  upon  the  lawns 
and  attending  to  the  flowers,  that  these  idlers 
may  enjoy  their  beauty;  see  those  grooms 
bringing  the  horses  and  waiting  upon  the  peo- 
ple who  go  out  into  the  sunshine  and  enjoy  the 


74  Beyond  the  Horizon 

beauties  of  nature  without  effort.  Do  I  not  see 
one  class  waiting  upon  and  doing  the  bidding 
of  another  class,  just  exactly  as  I  have  seen  in 
my  world  during  all  my  life?  Why  have  you 
deceived  me  in  the  way  you  have?  What  object 
had  you  in  telling  me  that  life  and  social  con- 
ditions here  were  different  from  what  they  are 
in  the  world  from  which  we  so  lately  came? 
Even  a  few  short  hours  ago,  when  1  became 
doubtful,  worried,  and  downhearted,  you 
cheered  me  up  and  caused  me  to  cast  aside  my 
doubts  and  fears  by  the  promise  that  I  should 
soon  be  brought  face  to  face  with  this  wonder- 
ful system  of  yours ;  and  now  that  I  am  here  I 
find  nothing  as  I  had  hoped, — nothing  as  I  had 
been  led  to  believe, — and  am  doomed  to  dis- 
appointment." 

In  my  excitement  the  feeling  that  I  had  been 
wronged  and  imposed  upon  overwhemed  me 
completely,  and  I  was  about  to  turn  away,  with 
the  idea  of  making  my  way  back  to  the  car, 
hoping  that  I  might  be  able  to  get  my  gold, 
when  noticing  the  look  of  amusement  with 
which  Creon  was  regarding  me,  I  hesitated,  and 
stood  looking  him  full  in  the  face,  unable  either 
to  do  or  say  anything  further.  He  could,  of 
course  see  that  I  was  very  much  agitated,  and 
for  the  second  time  that  day  I  doubted  his  sin- 
cerity. 

''Possibly,"  he  said,  "your  conclusions  are 
warranted,  in  view  of  what  you  have  observed, 


Entree  into  the  New  World  75 

and  I  am  frank  to  tell  you  that  I  expected  as 
much.  But  do  you  not  observe  any  difference 
between  these  people  and  those  you  have  been 
accustomed  to  see  in  the  resorts  of  which  you 
speak?" 

"Yes,"  I  answered,  "I  do.  There  are,  I 
must  confess,  none  of  the  newly  rich, — the  par- 
venu is  not  in  evidence ;  nor  do  I  see  the  osten- 
tatious display  of  wealth,  the  snobocracy,  that 
is  so  conspicuous  about  the  hotels  and  resorts  in 
that  world  of  mine.  The  ladies  here  are  not  so 
made  up  nor  so  overdressed,  and  I  observe  that 
there  are  not  the  extreme  styles  in  dress  nor  the 
desire  to  attract  attention.  I  have  never  seen 
about  a  place  of  this  kind  a  people  dressed  in 
better  taste  and  more  refined  in  looks  and  ap- 
pearance. These  people  possess  culture  and  re- 
finement as  well  as  wealth.  It  must  be  a  very 
exclusive  place,  and  you  have,  no  doubt,  brought 
me  here  in  order  that  my  first  impression  of 
your  people  will  be  favorable.  I  notice  that 
even  the  servants  about  the  hotel  are  not  ordi- 
nary people.  But  all  this  is  not  to  the  point. 
While  it  is  a  pleasure  to  meet  and  associate  with 
people  of  culture  and  refinement,  I  did  not  have 
to  travel  millions  of  miles  from  one  planet  to 
another  to  find  such." 

"I  am  much  pleased,"  said  Creon,  "to  know 
that  you  are  favorably  impressed  with  the  peo- 
ple, the  place,  and  the  surroundings.  I  hoped 
that  you  would  be.    Now  I  am  going  to  tell  you 


76  Beyond  the  Horizon 

something  that  will  be  a  greater  surprise  to  you 
than  anything  that  you  have  yet  heard,  or  seen. 
You  have  told  me  who,  judging  from  their  dress 
and  manners,  you  think  these  people  are;  to 
what  class,  as  you  say,  they  belong.  These  peo- 
ple you  see, — these  people  of  culture,  refine- 
ment, and  supposed  wealth,  belong  to  what  you 
would  call  the  laboring  class.  These  men, — or 
at  least  the  majority  of  them, — are  bricklayers, 
concrete  mixers,  mechanics  of  one  kind  or  an- 
other, wood  cutters,  and  farmers,  who  are  work- 
ing regular  hours  at  their  employment  every 
day.  There  are  a  few  professional  men,  such  as 
doctors,  architects  and  civil  engineers,  and  here 
and  there  a  traveler  like  ourselves. 

"The  ladies  that  you  see  here  are  their  wives 
and  daughters  and,  like  them,  are  doing  their 
share  in  some  kind  of  employment.  Another 
thing  that  may  surprise  you  is  that  instead  of 
this  place  being  a  fashionable  resort, — a  place 
for  the  idle  rich,  as  you  say,  to  waste  their  time 
and  spend  their  money, — it  is  an  obscure  fron- 
tier village,  as  this  part  of  the  country  is  just 
being  cleared  of  its  forest  and  prepared  for  the 
habitation  of  man.  I  see  that  you  are  not  con- 
vinced; but,  if  you  will  take  a  short  walk  with 
me,  I  will  prove  all  I  have  said.  It  is  now  nearly 
three  o'clock  and  you  can  have  an  opportunity 
of  seeing  this  system  in  full  operation.  Do  you 
see  that  many  of  the  men  are  leaving  the  park 


Entree  into  the  New  World  77 

and  their  amusements'?  Those  men  are  going 
to  their  work  for  the  day." 

Proceeding  up  the  river  a  short  distance,  we 
came  to  a  place  where  a  large  dam  across  the 
river  and  an  electric  power  plant  were  being 
constructed.  Here  a  couple  of  hundred  or  more 
men  were  at  work :  some  engaged  in  excavating ; 
some  constructing  forms  for  concrete;  others 
laying  brick,  while  others  seemed  to  have  the 
work  in  charge,  supervising  and  planning.  Most 
of  the  men  were  bareheaded  and  barearmed ;  all 
were  powerful,  well  formed,  muscular  fellows, 
working  with  an  earnestness  and  efficiency  such 
as  I  had  never  seen  before.  Stopping  upon  a 
close-by  elevation,  where  we  could  look  down 
upon  them,  I  observed  that  these  men  were 
dressed  for  the  work  they  were  engaged  in,  and 
that  there  was  no  shirking  or  loitering  on  the 
job,  each  man  attending  strictly  to  the  work  he 
was  doing. 

Near  where  this  work  was  going  on  there  was 
a  long  two-story  building  into  which  well- 
dressed  men,  such  as  I  had  seen  in  the  park  and 
about  the  hotel,  were  entering,  and  among  them 
I  recognized  two  of  the  gentlemen  in  the  group 
at  the  table  next  to  ours  when  we  were  at  lunch- 
eon. Being  curious,  I  inquired  of  Creon  what 
the  building  was  used  for. 

"Why,  that  building,"  he  replied,  "is  where 
the  workmen  change  their  clothing.  Each  man 
has  a  locker,  in  which  he  keeps  his  working 


78  Beyond  the  Horizon 

clothes,  and  changes  before  going  to  work.  By- 
doing  this,  the  men  are  not  seen  upon  the 
streets,  in  their  homes,  and  about  the  hotels  and 
parks,  in  their  working  clothes,  but  have  the  ap- 
pearance, as  you  seem  to  think,  of  being  men  of 
wealth,  with  leisure  to  enjoy  it. 

1 '  In  the  building  there  are  hot  and  cold  water, 
bathrooms  sufficient  for  all,  shower  and  plunge 
baths,  and  attendants  in  charge.  As  soon  as 
the  men  finish  their  work  they  go  there,  remove 
their  working  clothes,  take  their  baths,  don  their 
other  clothes,  and  are  through  work  for  the  day, 
with  the  feeling  that  they  have  performed  their 
part,  and  are  free  to  read,  ride,  and  play, — are 
men  of  leisure  until  it  is  time  to  go  to  their 
work  the  next  day. 

''Men  who  perform  this  kind  of  labor  only 
work  three  hours  in  each  day,  as  the  work  of 
the  day  is  divided  into  four  shifts,  the  first  shift 
going  to  work  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and 
the  last  quitting  at  six  in  the  evening.  The 
men  now  working  commenced  at  noon  and  will 
work  until  three,  and  the  men  you  have  seen 
entering  that  building  are  now  getting  ready  to 
take  their  places  and  will  work  until  six. 

"With  short  hours  of  labor,  good  living, 
wholesome  amusements,  and  no  dissipation, 
these  men  are  always  strong,  healthy,  and  will- 
ing, and  will  accomplish  more  in  the  three  hours 
they  work  than  your  laboring  men  do  in  eight  or 
ten.     They  have  no  cares,  no  worries,  and  are 


Entree  into  the  New  World  79 

never  overworked,  tired,  or  worn.  For  twenty- 
one  out  of  the  twenty-four  hours  of  the  day 
they  are  men  of  leisure,  with  means  of  enjoy- 
ment furnished  them  free.  And  then,  they  know 
that  when  they  arrive  at  the  age  of  sixty  years 
their  labors  are  over,  and  during  the  balance  of 
their  lives  they  will  occupy  a  position  that  can 
only  be  attained  by  those  that  live  to  reach  that 
age.  They  live  in  good  homes  or  in  first  class 
hotels.  They  dress  well,  live  well,  and  are  pure 
and  healthy  in  mind  as  well  as  in  body. 

"From  an  economic  standpoint,  the  mechan- 
ics and  laboring  men  here  cost  the  community 
less  than  they  do  in  your  country,  give  much 
more  in  return,  and  receive  a  great  deal  more 
for  themselves.  Here,  as  you  see,  they  are  in 
wealth  and  in  social  standing  the  equal  of  any 
man;  their  occupation  is  honorable,  and  they 
are  independent  and  self  respecting.  Their 
lives  are  clean,  noble,  and  enjoyable.  They  do 
not  drink  to  excess,— not  even  regularly,  or  as 
a  habit, — and  tobacco  in  this  country  is  un- 
known. 

"Did  you  ever  stop  to  think  of  the  enormous 
cost  of  drink  and  tobacco  each  year  to  the  labor- 
ing men  in  your  country, — not  counting  their 
loss  of  force  and  energy  therefrom?  Neither 
of  these  give  anything  in  return  and  are  a  total 
loss  to  the  men  themselves  and  to  the  com- 
munity. Then  consider  your  losses  by  reason 
of  strikes ;  the  fights  between  capital  and  labor, 


80  Beyond  the  Horizon 

which  of  course  are  brought  about  by  reason  of 
your  insane  system,  and  must  continue  as  long 
as  that  system  exists.  Then  the  inefficiency, 
and  the  desire  not  to  give  too  much  in  return 
for  the  wage  received.  All  of  this  is  a  burden 
upon  your  people,  and  is  one  of  the  chief  causes 
of  the  high  cost  of  living,  which  I  heard  so  much 
about  when  there.  Your  people  must  get  away 
from  all  this.  The  laboring  man  knows  that  he 
is  being  wronged,  and  in  retaliation  wrongs 
others  as  well  as  himself.  Capital  is  grasping, 
relentless,  and  hard;  without  a  soul;  without 
sympathy;  without  pity,  and  without  reason. 
Thus  you  go  on  under  a  system  by  which,  in- 
stead of  working  together  for  the  good  of  all, 
you  work,  plan,  and  fight  against  one  another, 
making  life  as  hard  and  burdensome  as  pos- 
sible." 

"Do  all  men  work  only  three  hours  each 
day?"  I  inquired. 

"No,"  he  informed  me;  "the  men  who  super- 
intend the  work,  and  do  no  manual  labor  work 
six. ' ' 

Just  then  a  gong  sounded,  and  the  men  came 
out  of  the  building,  dressed  in  their  working 
clothes,  and  took  the  places  of  those  we  had  seen 
at  work.  I  noticed  that  the  men  working  did 
not  stop  until  those  who  took  their  places  ar- 
rived, and  then,  turning  over  their  tools  to  the 
new  men,  they  all  entered  the  building  from 
which  the  others  had  come.    In  going  to  their 


Entree  into  the  New  World  81 

work  there  was  no  evidence  that  the  work  was 
distasteful  or  irksome.  Instead,  they  reminded 
me  of  the  manner  in  which  professional  ball 
players  go  upon  the  grounds  to  commence  a 
game  of  ball.  There  was  the  vim  and  enthu- 
siasm in  their  manner  and  conduct  that  one 
notes  in  a  number  of  athletes  in  action.  My 
companion  informed  me  that  most  of  these  men 
took  up  lighter  employment  by  the  time  they 
were  forty-five. 

"In  fact,"  he  said,  "I  think  I  owe  a  great 
deal  of  my  physique  and  good  health  to  the 
little  over  ten  years  I  served  my  country  as  a 
bricklayer. ' ' 

' '  Were  you  a  bricklayer  1 "  I  inquired,  for  the 
moment  somewhat  astonished,  as  I  had  found 
him  to  be  a  man  of  the  highest  type  of  culture 
and  refinement. 

"Why,  yes,"  he  answered;  "and  I  flatter 
myself  that  I  was  a  fairly  good  one  and  could 
lay  as  many  bricks  in  three  hours  as  the  best 
of  them.  You  appear  surprised,  and  from  your 
way  of  judging  men,  my  admission  may  have 
the  effect  of  causing  you  a  momentary  shock. 
I  know  that,  under  the  method  of  training  and 
education  that  you  have  received,  bricklayers, 
as  well  as  others  who  perform  manual  labor, 
are  looked  upon  as  a  class  not  to  be  recognized 
in  what  you  call  good  society.  At  the  same 
time,  a  man  who  has  money,  no  matter  how 
he  may  have  obtained  it, — if  he  is  willing  to 


82  Beyond  the  Horizon 

spend  it  freely, — will  be  recognized  and  made 
much  of. 

"Money  is  the  thing  that  is  recognized  by 
your  people,  while  brains,  ability,  and  merit 
are  of  secondary  importance.  As  a  laborer  a 
man  may  pass  through  life  unrecognized  and 
alone,  but  if  by  some  freak  of  fortune  he  sud- 
denly acquires  an  abundance  of  gold,  he  finds 
that  friends  gather  around  him  in  vast  num- 
bers, and  he  is  no  longer  a  nonentity  but  a  per- 
son of  influence  and  importance;  that  people 
who,  before  he  was  touched  by  this  magic  wand, 
passed  him  by  as  unworthy  of  notice  now  meet 
him  with  a  hearty  welcome,  and  the  doors  of 
the  wealthy  and  great  are  opened  wide  that  he 
may  enter. 

"You  will  doubtless  call  to  mind  many  men 
in  your  world,  devoid  of  learning,  culture,  and 
refinement,  ignorant,  coarse  and  uncouth,  vile 
in  habits,  and  foul  of  mouth,  who,  on  account 
of  their  wealth,  are  looked  up  to,  sought  after, 
honored,  and  respected ;  when  in  many  instances 
it  is  known  by  all  that  their  wealth  was  ac- 
quired by  oppression,  by  fraud  and  deceit,  by 
taking  undue  advantage  of  others,  by  the  toil 
and  misery  of  the  child  and  mother,  and  even 
perhaps  by  taking  the  crust  from  the  feeble 
grasp  of  the  hungry  and  perishing.  Is  there 
anything  about  labor  that  is  dishonorable, — any 
reason  why  honest  men  who  work  with  their 
hands  should  be  shunned  by  any  one?    Is  the 


Entree  into  the  New  World  83 

man  who  rides  any  better  than  the  one  who 
walks'?  Is  there  any  reason  why  the  equality 
and  unity  of  mankind, — the  full  reality  of  hu- 
man brotherhood, — should  not  prevail  in  your 
world  as  well  as  in  this? 

"This  world  in  itself  is  no  better  than  yours. 
I  know  them  both,  and  I  can  say  to  you  that 
they  are  in  all  respects  alike.  Here  the  hu- 
man race  has  reached  a  high  state  of  civiliza- 
tion, while  in  your  world  it  is  still  groping  in 
ignorance  and  darkness.  Some  there  are  who 
have  pierced  the  gloom  and  are  struggling  to- 
ward the  light.  But  the  thirst  for  gold,  the 
desire  to  possess,  the  ownership  of  lands  and 
chattels,  must  be  obliterated  before  any  real 
advancement  can  be  made. 

' '  All  who  think  and  feel ;  who  are  not  so  sel- 
fish as  to  have  lost  all  regard  for  humanity, 
realize  the  injustice  and  hopelessness  of  the 
existing  conditions,  and  many  are  blindly  striv- 
ing to  bring  about  a  change  for  the  better,  but 
are  met  with  the  idea  that  human  nature  can- 
not be  changed  and  that  it  is  useless  to  try. 
If  we  concede  that  the  human  race  prefers  war, 
strife,  turmoil  and  misery  to  peace,  content- 
ment, happiness  and  prosperity,  the  conditions 
that  prevail  in  your  world  cannot  be  changed. 
You  have  seen  our  laborers  at  work  and  you 
have  seen  them  when  not  at  work;  you  know 
the  conditions  under  which  not  only  your  la- 
box^ers  but  all  your  people  live  and  exist.    Which 


84  Beyond  the  Horizon 

would  you  prefer  to  be :  A  laborer  in  this  world 
under  our  system,  or  a  millionaire  in  yours?" 

"Surely,"  I  answered,  "the  people  I  have 
seen  to-day  enjoy  greater  freedom,  live  better 
lives,  and  get  more  real  enjoyment  and  pleasure 
out  of  life  than  is  possible  for  any  king  or  mil- 
lionaire under  the  social  conditions  existing  in 
my  world.  I  am  now  convinced  that  all  you 
have  told  me  of  your  system,  and  much  more, 
does  in  fact  exist.  I  owe  you  an  apology,  and 
hope  you  will  forgive  my  rudeness  in  enter- 
taining any  doubts  of  your  sincerity.  It  is  im- 
possible for  me  after  the  education  and  train- 
ing I  have  had,  and  the  environment  under 
which  I  have  lived  to  comprehend  the  situation 
and  conditions  before  me.  I  have  only  seen 
the  rich  enjoying  the  luxuries  of  life  and  sup- 
posed that  none  others  could." 

"Apologies  are  unnecessary,"  said  Creon, 
"I  can  very  well  appreciate  your  feelings  and 
your  mode  of  reasoning.  All  of  which  carries 
out  the  idea  that  training,  education,  and  en- 
vironment are  the  controlling  elements  in  hu- 
man affairs.  Let  us  return  to  the  hotel  and 
lay  our  plans  for  the  journey  which  is  before 
us,  and  upon  which  we  will  start  in  the  morn- 
ing. ' ' 

What  I  had  seen  relieved  my  anxious  mind 
and  I  commenced  to  understand  the  full  import 
of  all  he  had  told  me  regarding  the  social  sys- 
tem of  those  wonderful  people. 


Entree  into  the  New  World  85 

And  then  there  appeared  to  me  the  vision  of 
a  portrait  upon  a  wall, — beautiful  and  inspir- 
ing :  the  portrait  of  a  girl  with  smiling  lips  and 
laughing  eyes  that  removed  all  further  hint 
of  the  doubt  and  anxiety  that  had  been  haunt- 
ing my  troubled  mind. 


CHAPTER  VI 

AN  EQUESTRIAN  DANCE 

On  our  way  back  from  the  power  plant  my 
companion  informed  me  that  our  ultimate  des- 
tination, the  Capital  of  the  Country,  was  some 
five  hundred  miles  from  where  we  were,  and 
that  we  could  either  make  the  journey  by  train 
or  procure  horses,  and  either  drive  or  ride.  I, 
of  course,  told  him  that  his  plans  were  mine, 
and  that  I  did  not  want  in  any  manner  to  inter- 
fere with  his  business  or  pleasure. 

"It  is,"  he  said,  "my  business  as  well  as  my 
pleasure  to  show  you  this  country,  its  people, 
and  our  social  system  in  full  operation.  I  have 
brought  you  here  for  that  purpose  and  my  time 
is  yours,  and  I  hope  your  time  is  mine.  If 
we  travel  all  of  the  way  by  train,  you  will  see 
very  little  of  the  country  and  people,  and  I 
would  advise  that  we  either  procure  saddle 
horses  and  ride,  or  a  team  and  drive.  We  can 
then  make  the  journey  by  easy  stages,  which 
will  enable  you  not  only  to  see  the  country  and 
the  cities  and  villages  as  we  journey  along,  but 
meet  the  people  also.  How  would  you  like  to 
make  twenty-five  miles  to-morrow  on  horseback 

86 


An  Equestrian  Dance  87 

to  a  small  town,  located  at  the  head  of  a  lake 
which  is  about  one  hundred  miles  in  length? 
Then  instead  of  following  the  road  around  the 
lake,  we  can  go  by  boat  to  the  lower  end,  and 
then  determine  the  manner  in  which  we  will 
complete  our  journey." 

' '  Nothing  would  give  me  greater  pleasure,  as 
I  am  very  fond  of  riding, ' '  I  replied.  ' '  But  we 
are  without  suitable  clothes  for  riding,  and 
then,  how  about  horses  ?  You  know  we  are  not 
coming  back,  and  we  would  have  to  make  ar- 
rangements for  their  return.  And  then  what 
will  we  do  about  the  few  things  we  have? 
While  I  have  never  traveled  in  as  light  march- 
ing order  as  now,  still  we  have  enough  to  make 
it  uncomfortable  to  carry  on  horseback." 

' '  Oh,  I  think  we  can  manage  all  that  without 
any  difficulty,"  he  said.  "Suppose  we  go  over 
to  the  stable  and  ascertain  what  arrangements 
we  can  make  about  procuring  horses." 

Having  been  interested  in  observing  the  peo- 
ple and  the  surroundings  generally,  I  had  not 
given  the  stable  building  any  special  attention, 
but  upon  approaching  it,  I  observed  that  it  was 
a  large  two-story  building  of  concrete  structure, 
with  extensive  wings  on  the  sides,  and  in  the 
rear  a  covered  circular  space  or  rink  for  the 
exercising  of  horses  and  indoor  riding  in  bad 
weather.  As  we  entered,  a  beautiful,  even- 
ly-matched pair  of  blacks  were  being  harnessed 
to  a  light  driving  buggy,  and  five  or  six  other 


88  Beyond  the  Horizon 

horses  were  being  saddled.  As  soon  as  the 
blacks  were  ready,  a  lady  and  gentleman  came 
out  from  the  waiting-room,  each  presenting  a 
card  to  the  attendant  in  charge,  who,  procuring 
a  small  punch  from  his  pocket,  punched  each  of 
the  cards,  as  a  train  conductor  would  do  with  a 
passenger  ticket,  and  handed  back  the  card, 
with  the  wish  that  they  might  have  a  pleasant 
drive. 

As  the  two  passed  us  in  driving  out,  the  lady 
gave  us  a  pleasant  nod  of  recognition,  and  her 
companion,  upon  noticing  it,  raised  his  hat  with 
a  polite  salutation.  I  could  not  refrain  from 
watching  the  horses  as  they  moved  down  the 
driveway  toward  the  main  street.  Their  poise, 
style,  and  gait  plainly  indicated  that  they  were 
thoroughbreds  of  the  highest  type.  Carrying 
their  heads  erect,  with  arching  necks,  without 
check  or  curb,  they  were  as  fine  a  pair  as  I 
would  ever  wish  to  draw  rein  over. 

''There,"  I  thought,  "are  some  persons  of 
importance,  to  have  a  turnout  like  that !  I  must 
find  out  who  they  are." 

So,  turning  to  Creon,  who  stood  beside  me,  L 
said: 

"There  is  a  pair  of  horses  that  it  wTould  be  a 
delight  to  own.  Who  are  those  people?  I  no- 
ticed that  they  seemed  to  recognize  you,  and 
how  is  it  that  they  have  a  pair  of  horses  like 
that  kept  for  their  pleasure?" 

"That    lady    and    gentleman?"    he    asked. 


An  Equestrian  Dance  89 

' '  Why,  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  the  gentleman  is 
one  of  the  workmen  we  saw  at  the  power  plant 
a  short  time  ago,  and  as  to  the  lady,  if  you  had 
not  been  so  interested  in  the  horses,  you  would 
have  observed  that  she  was  the  lady  who  waited 
upon  us  at  luncheon.  I  presume  she  is  the  wife 
of  the  gentleman  with  her.  They  have  finished 
their  work  for  the  day  and  are  now  taking  an 
evening  drive,  which  they  have,  no  doubt,  well 
earned. ' ' 

"But  the  horses!"  I  exclaimed.  "Surely 
such  magnificent  animals  as  those  are  not  fur- 
nished for  the  use  of  every  one.  In  my  world, 
millionaires  who  are  lovers  of  horses  do  not 
have  any  better." 

"Yes,  they  are  a  good  pair,"  he  replied. 
"Now  let  us  look  over  the  stable  and  select  a 
couple  for  ourselves  for  to-morrow.  We  had 
better  make  an  early  start  and  enjoy  the  morn- 
ing air." 

"How  can  we  select  a  couple  for  ourselves1?" 
I  inquired.  "You  speak  as  though  the  stable 
were  yours  and  that  all  you  have  to  do  is  to 
order  what  you  want  and  you  get  it." 

"Well,"  he  said,  "it  does  come  pretty  close 
to  that.  So  far  as  the  ownership,  as  you  call  it, 
is  concerned,  I  own  it  as  much  as  any  one ;  and 
as  to  procuring  what  we  want,  any  of  the  saddle 
horses  in  the  stable,  not  already  engaged,  are 
ours  for  to-morrow,  and  all  we  have  to  do  is  to 
select  them.    Before  going  through  the  stable  I 


90  Beyond  the  Horizon 

want  to  say  that  I  am  satisfied  you  will  see  here 
a  better  class  of  horses  than  you  ever  before 
saw  in  any  one  stable.  In  the  first  place,  our 
horses  are  never  overworked  nor  underfed,  and 
have  the  very  best  of  care  and  attention. 

"Then,  we  do  not  breed  in  your  usual  hap- 
hazard way,  without  regard  to  color,  weight, 
style,  strain,  or  adaptation  to  a  special  use.  Our 
horses  are  bred  and  raised  on  farms  specially 
fitted  for  the  purpose,  under  the  charge  and  di- 
rection of  men  who  are  experts,  and  make  that 
their  life's  study.  Then  the  colts  and  young 
horses  are  trained,  not  broken.  Those  farms 
are  devoted  to  the  breeding  of  special  classes, 
such  as  saddle  horses  or  driving  horses,  and 
upon  others  the  combination  horse  used  for 
both  saddle  and  driving  is  made  a  specialty; 
light  and  heavy  draft-horses  are  also  bred  with 
as  much  care  and  attention  as  is  given  to  the 
raising  of  ponies  for  the  children,  polo  ponies, 
racers,  and  jumpers. 

"Polo,  racing,  and  hurdle-jumping  are  all  fa- 
vorite sports  here,  and  as  there  is,  of  course, 
no  betting,  and  as  all  are  for  the  sport  of  the 
game,  the  contests  are  keen,  and  the  best  win. 
In  the  horse  shows  and  in  the  racing  and  jump- 
ing contests  the  trainer  usually  rides  the  horse 
that  he  trains,  and  the  farms  upon  which  the 
winners  are  bred  and  trained  are  held  in  great 
repute.  Look  at  those  saddle  horses  over  there, 
and  notice  the  wide  foreheads,  silky  manes  and 


An  Equestrian  Dance  91 

tails,  deep  plump  chests,  small,  well-shaped  feet 
and  legs,  glossy  coats,  style,  and  movement. 
Every  one  of  them,  to  a  good  horseman,  looks 
and  acts  like  a  winner.  Do  you  know  it  does 
not  cost  any  more  to  keep  and  take  care  of 
horses  like  those  than  it  does  to  feed  and  care 
for  that  many  scrubs?  and  then  see  what  we 
have  in  return." 

"You  speak  of  polo  ponies,  racers  and  jump- 
ers. Do  the  people  here  play  polo,  have  horse 
shows,  horse  races,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing?" 
I  inquired. 

' '  Certainly  they  do,  and,  by  the  way,  I  under- 
stand there  is  to  be  an  equestrian  dance  at  the 
polo  grounds  this  evening,  which  will  be  some- 
thing new  to  you;  so,  we  must  attend." 

In  looking  through  the  stable  I  found  the 
finest  lot  of  horses  that  it  had  ever  been  my 
good  fortune  to  inspect.  Every  one  of  them 
showed  good  breeding  and  care.  The  stable 
was  clean  and  well  aired,  and  the  neatness  of 
the  men  and  its  thorough  equipment  reminded 
me  of  a  high-class  racing  stable  in  my  own 
country.  The  horses  were  all  kept  in  box  stalls, 
the  hay  for  their  feed  was  chopped,  and  their 
grain  ground,  or  rolled.  Machinery  for  that 
purpose  was  installed  in  the  stable  and  operated 
by  electricity.  I  did  not  make  inquiry  as  to 
the  number  of  horses  in  the  stable,  but  there 
must  have  been  between  a  hundred  and  fifty  and 
two  hundred.  On  one  side  of  the  main  entrance 


92  Beyond  the  Horizon 

there  was  a  well-fitted-up  office,  and  on  the 
other  side  a  large  and  rather  luxuriously  fur- 
nished waiting-room.  Carriages,  harnesses, 
and  saddles  were  of  the  best,  and  all  neat  and 
well  kept. 

After  thoroughly  inspecting  the  stable,  we 
went  into  the  office,  where  Creon  inquired  of  a 
gentleman  sitting  at  the  desk  about  procuring 
a  couple  of  saddle  horses  to  make  the  trip  next 
day  to  the  town  on  the  lake  of  which  he  had 
spoken. 

' '  When  will  you  return  f "  he  inquired.  Upon 
being  informed  that  we  were  travelers  and 
would  not  be  coming  back,  he  thought  for  a 
moment  and  said: 

"I  suppose  you  would  like  a  couple  of  pretty 
good  saddlers,  and  we  have  a  number  from 
which  you  can  have  your  choice.  Yes,  I  have  a 
pair  of  good  ones  that  came  up  from  the  lake 
a  few  days  ago,  and  should  be  sent  back.  I  will 
have  them  brought  out  so  you  can  see  how  you 
like  them ;  and  if  they  are  satisfactory,  you  can 
have  them." 

"You  need  not  trouble  to  do  that,"  said 
Creon.  "I  am  sure  they  will  be  all  right,  and 
we  will  call  for  them  in  the  morning  at  six. ' ' 

"Now,"  said  Creon,  after  we  had  left  the 
stable,  "the  time  has  come  when  you  must  be- 
come one  of  us,  a  resident  for  the  time  being  of 
this  planet,  a  part  of  our  system,  and  entitled 
to  all  its  rights  and  privileges.  When  I  left  here 


An  Equestrian  Dance  93 

to  make  your  world  a  visit  I  had  a  vague  idea 
that,  if  I  found  a  man  in  whom  I  could  con- 
fide, I  would  bring  him  back  with  me ;  so  I  pro- 
vided myself  with  the  means  of  taking  care  of 
him  after  I  got  him  here." 

Then,  taking  from  his  pocket  a  round  metal 
piece  about  the  size  of  a  half-dollar,  and  a  card 
such  as  I  had  seen  the  lady  and  gentleman  pro- 
duce in  the  stable,  he  handed  them  to  me,  say- 
ing: 

' '  On  this  side  of  the  metal  piece  you  will  see 
a  number  preceded  by  the  abbreviation  'Dist.' 
That  is  the  district  in  which  you  will  belong 
while  here,— the  same  in  which  I  belong.  On 
the  other  side  you  will  see  a  number  preceded 
by  an  initial.  That  is  your  number  in  this  dis- 
trict. 

1 '  When  you  desire  anything,  you  select  what 
you  need  and  present  that  metal  check;  that  is 
all  you  are  required  to  do.  When  you  procure 
anything  beyond  your  everyday  wants, — for  in- 
stance, any  article  of  wearing  apparel, — your 
district  and  number  are  taken  by  the  person 
from  whom  you  receive  the  article  and  for- 
warded to  the  counting  house  of  your  district, 
and  there  entered  against  your  number.  At  the 
end  of  the  year  you  will  receive  a  statement 
showing  what  has  been  charged  against  you 
during  the  year.  Those  charges,  however,  do 
not  include  lodging  and  meals  and  the  ordinary 
everyday  necessities.    So  long  as  a  person  per- 


94  Beyond  the  Horizon 

forms  his  or  her  share  of  labor  those  are  fur- 
nished within  reason  upon  presenting  the  metal 
check,  and  no  record  is  made  of  them.  If  it 
appears  from  your  account  that  you  are  ex- 
travagant and  procuring  more  than  your  share, 
proper  action  will  be  taken  to  require  you  to 
curtail  your  desires.  It  is  seldom  that  this  oc- 
curs, and  it  is  considered  a  great  disgrace  to  be 
called  to  account  in  that  regard. 

"That  card  is  your  amusement  card.  Pleas- 
ure is  one  of  the  objects  of  life,  and  under  our 
system  that  is  also  provided  for.  We  furnish 
means  by  which  every  man,  and  every  woman, 
is  provided  with  recreation  and  entertainment. 
You  may  go  riding  or  driving,  attend  the  the- 
ater, ball  game,  races,  or  any  other  place  of 
amusement,  and  that  card  will  give  you  those 
privileges. 

"As  you  will  see,  there  are  numbers  running 
from  one  to  thirty-one ;  they  represent  the  days 
of  the  month.  You  write  the  month  across  the 
top  and  sign  your  name  at  the  bottom,  and  on 
the  first  of  the  month  you  will  surrender  this 
and  receive  a  new  card.  At  the  stable,  at  the 
theater,  or  at  any  place  of  amusement  you  at- 
tend, present  this  card  to  an  attendant  in 
charge,  and  he  will  punch  the  number  represent- 
ing the  clay  of  the  month.  It  serves  as  a  pass 
to  any  entertainment  for  that  day.  You  see,  it 
is  all  very  simple.  Our  plan  of  providing  for 
the  needs  and  enjoyments  of  the  people  is  much 


An  Equestrian  Dance  95 

less  complicated  than  the  money  system  in  your 
world  and  according  to  it  every  one  receives  his 
or  her  share  and  no  more. 

"We  not  only  believe  that  all  who  are  able 
should  be  required  to  perform  their  share  to- 
ward the  support  and  maintenance  of  all,  but 
we  believe  that  they  should  receive  in  return 
the  necessities  and  comforts  of  life  and  the  en- 
joyments and  pleasures  also.  None  is  required 
to  work  unless  he  is  perfectly  able,  physically 
and  mentally,  to  do  so;  and  if  it  is  found  that 
any  one  is  employed  on  work  that  is  too  hard, 
or  for  which  he  is  not  adapted,  he  is  given  other 
employment.  All,  however,  who  are  able  to 
work  but  will  not, — and  such  cases  are  very, 
very  rare, — are  first  carefully  examined  by  ex- 
perts as  to  their  mental  condition;  and  if  it  is 
found  that  their  minds  are  unbalanced  they  are 
sent  to  the  institution  for  the  feeble-minded  for 
treatment;  but  if  upon  such  examination  they 
are  pronounced  sane,  they  are  committed  to  the 
institution  for  the  treatment  of  criminals. 

"Those  institutions  we  will  visit  and  inspect 
on  our  way  to  the  Capital  City.  You  will  find 
that  our  methods  of  caring  for  the  insane  and 
criminals  are  entirely  different  from  what  they 
are  in  your  world;  as  different,  indeed,  as  are 
our  whole  social  and  industrial  systems. 

' '  By  the  way,  as  our  plan  of  dealing  with  one 
another  is  new  to  you,  for  a  time  you  had  bet- 
ter watch  me,  and  when  I  produce  my  check  or 


96  Beyond  the  Horizon 

card  you  can  produce  yours  also.  Now  that  you 
are  one  of  us,  it  is  necessary  that  you  have  some 
occupation,  and  for  the  present  you  will  act  as 
my  secretary  and  travel  with  me  as  such.  As 
it  will  soon  be  closing  time,  we  had  better  pro- 
ceed to  the  store  and  select  our  riding  clothes, 
and  you  will  find  that  there  will  not  be  any  more 
trouble  about  doing  that  than  there  was  in  pro- 
curing the  horses.  After  that  we  will  dine  and 
then  go  to  the  equestrian  dance." 

There  was  only  one  store  in  the  village, — a 
large,  two-story,  brick  building  with  basement, 
and,  upon  entering,  I  found  that  it  very  much 
resembled  what  we  call  a  department  store.  The 
grocery,  vegetable,  and  fruit  departments  were 
on  the  first  floor,  and  occupied  nearly  its  entire 
space. 

Having  made  our  wants  known,  we  were  di- 
rected to  the  second  floor,  where  we  found  a 
large  assortment  of  riding  goods, — from  boots 
to  cap, — in  stock,  and  we  soon  made  our  selec- 
tions. As  this  was  my  first  experience  in  get- 
ting what  seemed  to  me  something  for  nothing, 
I  watched  Creon  very  closely,  with  the  idea  that 
so  long  as  I  followed  his  lead  I  would  pull 
through.  So,  when  he  produced  his  check  and 
requested  that  his  purchases,  if  they  may  be 
called  such,  be  delivered  at  the  hotel,  I  did  the 
same  with  the  best  grace  possible,  half  believing 
that  the  request  would  be  refused. 

But,  notwithstanding  my  doubts,  the  numbers 


An  Equestrian  Dance  97 

on  the  checks  were  taken  down,  and  when  we 
arrived  at  the  hotel  some  half-hour  later  the 
packages  had  been  delivered.  I  had  procured  a 
complete  outfit,  including  underwear,  shirt,  cap, 
riding  boots,  gloves  and  crop,  and  as  soon  as 
I  reached  my  room  I  inspected  and  tried  them 
on.  They  were  finely  made  and  a  good  fit,  and 
in  looking  at  myself  in  a  full-length  mirror  in 
the  room,  I  decided  that  I  would  not  look  out  of 
place  on  the  bridle  paths  in  Central  Park,  espe- 
cially if  I  had  as  a  mount  any  one  of  the  saddle 
horses  that  I  had  seen  in  the  stable  that  after- 
noon. 

When  we  entered  the  dining  room  for  dinner 
the  tables  in  the  main  room,  as  well  as  those  in 
the  one  in  which  we  lunched,  were  nearly  all 
occupied.  An  orchestra,  occupying  a  balcony  be- 
tween the  dining-rooms,  was  playing  low,  soft 
music,  which,  mingling  with  the  usual  noises 
that  abound  where  a  couple  of  hundred  people 
were  dining,  carried  me  back  to  the  dinner  hour 
in  the  fashionable  hotel  at  Atlantic  City  where  I 
had,  less  than  two  weeks  before,  been  stopping. 

In  the  center  of  the  main  room  there  was  a 
fountain  surrounded  with  ferns  and  aquatic 
plants,  from  which  the  gentle  splashing  of  the 
water  in  the  basin  conveyed  a  sense  of  refresh- 
ing coolness.  The  linen,  silver  and  china  upon 
the  tables  were  all  set  off  by  floral  centerpieces. 
The  decorations  of  the  room  were  rich  but  plain, 
the  furniture  heavy,  comfortable  and  substan- 


98  Beyond  the  Horizon 

tial,  and  a  few  paintings  upon  the  walls  gave 
evidence  of  artistic  talent  of  considerable  abil- 
ity in  conception  and  execution. 

There  were  no  men  waiters,  young  ladies 
dressed  in  white  performing  that  service,  as  I 
later  found,  in  a  satisfactory  manner.  The  lady 
guests,  although  tastefully  and  becomingly 
gowned,  were  not  in  what  we  term  evening 
dress,  and  the  gentlemen  were  not  dressed  in 
the  style  usually  adopted  when  dining  in  the 
fashionable  hotels  that  I  had  been  accustomed 
to, — like  the  men  waiters  who  serve  them. 

While  waiting  for  our  orders  to  be  served  I 
carefully  looked  over  the  room  and  the  people, 
and  I  could  readily  sc  e  that  many  of  the  tables 
were  occupied  by  family  groups, — father, 
mother,  sons,  and  daughters.  The  gentlemen 
were  fine  specimens  of  physical  manhood:  in- 
telligent and  refined  in  looks  and  appearance. 
Many  were  taking  wine  with  their  meal,  and  all 
looked  and  appeared  as  though  they  were  at 
peace  with  the  world  and  felt  that  they  were 
receiving  their  share  of  its  bounties. 

The  ladies  were  healthy  and  fine  looking,  with 
refined,  clean-cut,  intelligent  features ;  and  with 
their  bright,  sparkling  eyes,  clear  complexions, 
and  vivacious  manners  were  very  attractive. 
As  I  looked  over  the  room  I  thought  I  had  never 
beheld  a  finer-looking,  more  intelligent,  and 
more  prosperous-appearing  people.    There  was 


An  Equestrian  Dance  99 

not  a  worried,  sad,  or  careworn  countenance 
present. 

At  one  of  the  tables  I  recognized  the  gentle- 
man from  whom  we  had  ordered  our  horses,  and 
near  us,  with  a  lady  and  two  children,  the  groom 
who  had  shown  us  through  the  stable,  while 
close  to  the  fountain  were  the  lady  and  gentle- 
man who  had  driven  out  behind  the  pair  of 
blacks  in  the  afternoon. 

''What  do  you  think  of  it  all?"  Creon  in- 
quired, noticing  that  I  was  much  interested  in 
the  people  and  surroundings. 

"Think  of  it!  What  can  I  think  to  see  the 
whole  people, — mechanics,  laborers,  stablemen, 
and  their  families, — dining  like  millionaires, 
and  much  happier  and  more  care-free,  and,  I 
raay  also  add,  more  refined  in  manners  and 
more  intelligent  in  looks!  It  is  wonderful, — 
almost  unbelievable." 

' '  It  may  seem  so  to  you,  having  been  trained 
and  educated  as  you  have,"  he  replied,  "but  it 
cannot  seem  as  impossible  as  your  inexplicable 
system  does  to  me.  How  human  beings  with 
reasoning  powers,  and  with  minds  to  think,  can 
continue  from  generation  to  generation  without 
making  any  progress,  without  throwing  off  the 
yoke  of  ignorance,  and  continue  to  worship  more 
and  more  a  yellow  metal, — of  no  greater  in- 
trinsic worth  in  itself  than  the  metal  check  or 
paper  card  that  you  now  have  in  your  pocket, — 
is  past  my  comprehension. 


100  Beyond  the  Horizon 

"Why  do  they  not  realize  the  cause  of  all 
their  misery;  wake  up  to  the  reason  why  so 
many  are  broken  in  health,  miserable,  and  un- 
happy ;  why  families  are  disrupted,  and  children 
turn  against  their  parents,  and  parents  against 
their  children;  why  your  prisons  and  jails  are 
crowded  to  overflowing,  and  insanity  is  contin- 
ually increasing  f 

"But  let  us  not  speak  on  the  subject  further 
at  present,  lest  we  spoil  our  appetites  for  a 
good  dinner.  I  will  order  the  wine,  as  I  am 
more  familiar  with  the  brands  than  you  are,  and 
I  believe  I  know  of  one  that  will  please  you.  As 
soon  as  we  have  dined,  we  must  get  into  our 
riding  clothes.  The  equestrian  dance  will  be  a 
proper  place  to  initiate  them,  and  although  we 
will  not  participate,  I  desire  that  we  arrive 
early,  in  order  that  you  may  see  it  all." 

After  finishing  our  meal  we  donned  our  rid- 
ing clothes  and  started  for  the  polo  grounds, 
which  were  just  outside  the  village.  Arriving 
at  the  entrance,  we  found  an  attendant  in 
charge,  and  upon  presenting  our  cards,  we  were 
admitted,  checks  for  our  seats  being  handed  to 
us.  An  usher  directed  us  to  our  seats,  and  I 
was  pleased  to  find  that  we  were  well  down  in 
front  with  a  good  opportunity  of  seeing  all 
there  was  to  be  seen. 

The  place  was  enclosed  on  one  end  and  two 
sides  by  a  structure  built  on  a  half  circle  and 
similar  to  the  grandstands  in  our  ball  parks,  the 


An  Equestrian  Dance  101 

other  end  being  enclosed  by  open  sheds  except 
an  opening  for  the  entrance  of  horses  and  ve- 
hicles. A  raised  platform,  so  constructed  as  not 
to  obstruct  the  view  of  the  field,  was  at  the  cen- 
ter of  the  circular  end  of  the  grandstand ;  and 
very  soon  after  we  were  seated  the  members 
of  the  band  came  in  and  took  their  places  upon 
this  platform.  The  field  was  considerably 
larger  than  the  regulation  size  of  a  polo  ground, 
and  the  grandstand — of  permanent  and  sub- 
stantial construction— had  a  seating  capacity 
for  several  thousand  people. 

After  looking  around  and  noting  the  size  of 
the  field  and  the  seating  capacity,  Creon  made 
the  remark  that,  "they  must  be  planning  to 
make  quite  a  manufacturing  town  out  of  this 
village. ' '  This  struck  me  as  singular  and  I  ven- 
tured to  enquire  what  these  grounds  had  to  do 
with  the  size  of  the  town. 

"You  remember,"  he  replied,  "that  I  told 
you  this  was  simply  a  frontier  village,  and  so  it 
is  at  present,  but  its  future  size,  population, 
public  buildings,  schools,  and  manufacturing 
plants,  its  parks,  streets,  places  of  amusement 
and  municipal  improvements, — in  other  words, 
the  town  just  as  it  will  be  when  completed  — 
are  now  all  planned,  and  these  grounds  are  laid 
out  not  for  the  present  but  for  the  future.  When 
we  settle  a  new  country,  we  do  not  do  as  your 
people  have  done,— first  donate  a  large  portion 
of  the  land  to  railroads,  and  then  let  every  one 


102  Beyond  the  Horizon 

else  scramble  for  the  rest:  the  water  powers, 
town-sites,  forests,  and  lands,  good  bad  and  in- 
dii'f'erent,  some  of  which  are  afterwards  utilized, 
some  not. 

' '  The  first  thing  we  do  in  settling  a  new  coun- 
try is  to  send  out  engineers  and  experts  to  make 
a  careful  survey  and  report  on  its  condition  and 
resources :  the  extent  and  character  of  the  tim- 
ber, its  soil  and  agricultural  probabilities,  its 
topography,  the  extent  of  its  water  powers,  the 
sand,  clay  and  cement  deposits,  if  any.  In  fact, 
we  first  ascertain  what  we  have  and  then  figure 
out  what  we  can  do  with  it  for  the  best  interests 
of  mankind. 

"Then  after  this  is  all  determined,  we  con- 
struct an  electric  power  line  from  the  nearest 
power  plant,  build  an  electric  railroad  into  the 
country,  and  make  a  few  good  highways, — such 
as  you  have  seen  to-day, — lay  out  future  towns, 
construct  power  plants,  and  prepare  to  settle 
the  country. 

"This,  as  you  have  seen,  is  a  well-timbered 
country,  consequently,  they  have  figured  out 
what  mills  and  manufacturing  plants  will  be 
necessary  to  take  the  raw  product  and  convert 
it  into  lumber,  furniture,  and  other  timber  prod- 
ucts. All  that  cannot  be  so  utilized  will  be  con- 
verted into  paper  pulp,  and  none  of  it  will  be 
wasted.  As  the  timber  is  taken  off,  the  land 
will  be  put  in  condition  for  cultivation,  more 
highways  laid  out,  farmhouses  and  buildings 


An  Equestrian  Dance  103 

constructed,  fences  built,  dwellings  in  the  towns 
erected  for  the  workers  in  the  mills,  fruit  and 
ornamental  trees  planted,  and  the  country  fully 
developed  and  beautified  as  needed,  and  not  be- 
fore. The  mills  will  be  so  constructed  that  after 
the  timber  that  is  tributary  becomes  exhausted, 
the  machinery  can  be  readily  removed  to  some 
other  like  plants,  and  these  mills  then  used  for 
other  kinds  of  manufacturing.  Thus,  they  will 
not  become  useless  and  a  loss  to  the  community, 
as  is  the  case  in  a  great  many  instances  in  your 
country. 

"From  the  survey  and  report  it  is  determined 
what  lands  shall  be  cleared  of  timber  and  what 
shall  not.  We  learned  long  ago  that  it  was  nec- 
essary to  protect  the  watersheds  and  conserve 
the  rainfall,  and  plan  accordingly.  We  have 
also  learned  that  electricity  is  the  one  all-power- 
ful force.  With  it  we  operate  our  trains,  mills, 
and  factories ;  heat  our  buildings ;  do  our  cook- 
ing, and,  of  course,  light  our  streets,  highways 
and  buildings,  in  the  country  as  well  as  in  the 
cities  and  villages.  Consequently  we  pay  much 
attention  to  our  water  powers,  and  the  whole 
people  are  given  the  full  benefits  to  be  derived 
from  them. 

"How  different  it  is  in  your  world!  There, 
nothing  is  free  to  the  people,  except  the  air  they 
breathe,  and  by  the  time  I  next  visit  there  I 
expect  to  find  that  some  syndicate  has  gotten 
control  of  that,  and  is  dealing  it  out  to  the  peo- 


104  Beyond  the  Horizon 

pie  for  a  consideration  in  yellow  gold,  having 
educated  and  trained  them  into  thinking  that  it 
is  proper  and  right.  To  me  it  would  be  as  sane 
and  feasible  as  some  of  the  things  that  are  be- 
ing done  there  now.  Your  water  powers  are 
only  partially  utilized,  and  those  only  for  the 
benefit  of  what  you  call  capital. 

"Your  people  seem  to  think  that  it  takes  capi- 
tal to  develop  your  water  powers,  and  hence 
they  can  only  be  developed  by  those  who  pos- 
sess it.  There  is  where  you  all  make  your  mis- 
take. It  is  brain  and  muscle,  thought  and  labor, 
that  develop  everything,  and  those  are  fur- 
nished by  the  people  alone,  and  they  should 
reap  the  full  benefits.  But  under  your  system, 
capital  is  continually  receiving  the  benefits  and 
handing  them  over  to  the  so-called  owners  of 
capital,  who  live  and  thrive  thereon,  while  the 
people  receive  nothing  therefrom.  But  let  us 
drop  the  subject  and  give  our  attention  to  what 
is  going  on  before  us." 

While  I  had  been  listening  to  my  companion 
I  had  at  the  same  time  been  interestedly  ob- 
servant of  all  that  was  going  on  in  the  field 
before  us.  Ladies  and  gentlemen  were  arriving 
on  horseback  and  gathering  in  groups,  or 
slowly  riding  about  the  enclosure ;  and  within  a 
short  time  two  hundred  or  more  had  assembled. 

The  ladies  all  wore  riding  habits  of  the  same 
style  and  color, — a  close  fitting,  cutaway  scarlet 
jacket  and  a  black  silk  hat  giving  them  a  jaunty 


An  Equestrian  Dance  105 

appearance;  while  the  gentlemen,  with  their 
white  breeches,  black  riding  boots,  and  moss- 
green  frock  coats  formed  a  pleasing  contrast. 
Each  lady  and  gentleman  carried  a  crop  decor- 
ated with  a  ribbon  that  matched  the  rider's 
coat. 

The  tails  of  the  horses  were  tied  with  ribbons, 
and  ribbons  were  braided  into  their  manes, — 
those  on  the  horses  ridden  by  the  ladies  being 
white  and  scarlet,  and  those  of  the  gentlemen 
white  and  green. 

' '  The  riding  clothes  that  you  see, ' '  observed 
Creon,  "are  only  worn  upon  occasions  of  this 
kind,  just  as  evening  dress  is  worn  by  your  peo- 
ple at  balls  and  formal  functions.  And  in  order 
that  the  color  effect  may  not  be  broken,  no  one 
is  expected  to  participate  unless  so  dressed." 

As  my  companion  was  speaking,  my  atten- 
tion became  fixed  upon  a  party  composed  of 
ladies  and  gentlemen  that  had  just  entered,  who 
were  riding  down  the  field.  There  was  one 
among  them  that  particularly  attracted  my  at- 
tention,— a  young  lady  whose  features  seemed 
familiar.  An  acquaintance, — a  friend?  But 
that  was  impossible.  With  the  exception  of 
Creon,  there  could  not  be  any  one  upon  that 
planet  that  I  had  ever  seen  before  that  day. 
For  a  moment  I  was  puzzled,  then  I  realized 
who  it  was,  and  forgetting  everything  but  her 
presence,  involuntarily  exclaimed : 

"It  is  Hallie!" 


106  Beyond  the  Horizon 

My  companion's  attention  having  been  else- 
where attracted,  lie  had  not  noticed  the  group, 
and  upon  hearing  my  outcry  he  turned  to  me 
with  a  look  of  astonishment  and  wonder. 

"I  mean  your  daughter  Halena,"  I  hastily 
explained,  in  some  confusion.  ' '  Why  didn  't  you 
inform  me  that  she  was  to  be  here  this  eve- 
ning?" 

' '  Hallie  here !  I  can  hardly  believe  such  good 
news  possible,"  cried  Creon.  "Where  is  she? 
Yes,  sure  enough, — there  she  is,"  he  continued, 
starting  toward  the  enclosure,  and  beckoning 
me  to  follow. 

Ever  since  I  first  beheld  that  portrait  upon 
the  wall  of  our  living  compartment  in  the  car, 
I  had  been  looking  forward  to  the  time  when 
I  should  meet  the  original;  but  just  at  that 
moment  I  felt  like  a  bashful  schoolboy  unex- 
pectedly called  upon  to  make  his  first  public 
declamation.  Why  such  a  feeling  should  pos- 
sess me  I  could  not  understand  and  for  the 
moment  I  almost  decided  to  remain  in  my  seat 
until  her  father  should  return.  But  the  strange 
sensation  soon  passed,  and  I  obeyed  his  sum- 
mons with  a  new  feeling  that, — as  I  passed 
down  the  aisle, — I  was  being  looked  upon  by 
every  one  present  as  a  curious  specimen  of 
humanity  from  another  world. 

She  was  not  so  much  surprised  at  meeting 
her  father  as  he  had  been  at  seeing  her.  She 
had  been  expecting  him  for  some  time  and  had 


An  Equestrian  Dance  107 

come  to  the  village  several  days  before  for  the 
purpose  of  meeting*  and  surprising  him  upon 
his  return  to  his  home  planet. 

During  our  journey  Creon  had  often  spoken 
of  his  daughter,  and  had  informed  me  that  she 
was  a  teacher  in  one  of  the  schools  in  the  Capi- 
tal City,  and  I  wondered  how  she  could  be  so 
far  away  from  her  duties ;  as  I  then  understood 
that  all  were  obliged  to  perform  their  daily 
tasks.  But  I  soon  learned  that,  being  entitled 
to  a  vacation,  she  had  embraced  the  opportu- 
nity of  visiting  some  friends  that  were  residing 
in  the  village,  so  that  at  the  same  time  she 
might  be  able  to  give  her  father  an  unexpected 
welcome  when  he  passed  that  way  on  his  jour- 
ney home  after  leaving  the  car  in  the  pocket  of 
the  nearby  mountains. 

When  I  was  introduced  by  Creon  as  a  friend 
and  traveling  companion,  the  young  girl's  dark, 
bewitching  eyes  flashed  upon  me  a  look  of  in- 
quiry, but  in  a  moment  it  had  passed,  and  with 
extended  hand  I  was  accorded  a  hearty  wel- 
come. I  knew  that  in  that  momentary  glance 
she  had  decided  that  I  was  a  stranger  from  an- 
other world,  and  in  her  handclasp  I  seemed  to 
feel  a  touch  of  sympathy  and  concern,  which 
immediately  banished  the  temporary  feeling  of 
self-consciousness  and  loneliness  that  had  come 
over  me  upon  realizing  that  I  was  a  creature 
from  another  planet. 

The  portrait  upon  the  wall  of  the  living  com- 


108  Beyond  the  Horizon 

partment  of  our  car  had  left  a  pleasant  and 
lasting  impression  upon  my  mind;  an  impres- 
sion entirely  different  from  any  that  I  had  ever 
before  experienced.  It  had  caused  me  to  dream 
day-dreams  until  the  pictured  image  had  become 
a  real  personage,  and  toward  the  end  of  our 
journey  almost  a  companion.  And  yet,  at  times 
I  had  wondered  if  the  subject  of  the  portrait 
would  come  up  to  my  expectations;  whether 
my  fancy  had  not  constructed  a  phantom  form, 
which,  when  I  beheld  the  original,  would  van- 
ish like  a  mirage  of  the  desert.  But  when  I 
saw  her  that  evening  sitting  her  mount  with 
all  the  grace  and  poise  of  a  sculptured  eques- 
trian figure,  I  knew  that  the  portrait  had  not 
deceived  me,  and  that  my  dreamy  fancy  had  not 
created  a  vanishing  phantom. 

But  our  interview  was  soon  interrupted  by  a 
gentleman  upon  the  platform,  who  was  an- 
nouncing the  names  of  the  lady  and  gentleman 
who  had  been  selected  as  leaders  for  the  eve- 
ning and  requesting  that  all  take  their  places  for 
the  grand  march.  Immediately  all  proceeded  to 
form  in  couples  behind  the  leaders,  and  Creon 
and  I  returned  to  our  seats.  The  band  com- 
menced to  play  at  first  a  slow  march,  which 
soon  became  more  lively.  The  horses  there- 
upon changed  from  a  walk  into  a  trot  and 
shortly  into  a  canter;  and  after  circling  twice 
around  the  outskirts  of  the  field,  they  came 
down   the   center.     Then,   upon   reaching   the 


An  Equestrian  Dance  109 

lower  end,  each  crossed  over  and  back  on  the 
outside,  and  back  and  forth,  following  the  lead- 
ers up  and  down,  whirling  about  in  and  out  and 
back  again,  crossing  and  re-crossing,  sometimes 
in  single  file  and  then  in  couples,  fours,  eights, 
and  twelves ;  at  length  swinging  around  in  per- 
fect line,  with  the  leading  lady  in  the  center 
of  the  field  and  the  leading  gentleman  on  the 
outside,  to  form  into  circles,  squares,  and  again 
in  couples,  fours  and  eights,  without  a  miss  or 
break. 

With  the  mingling  colors  of  the  riders,  the 
perfect  motion  of  the  horses,  the  brilliant  lights, 
the  stirring  music,  and  the  laughter,  the  scene 
presented  will  never  become  obliterated  from 
my  mind,  although  I  have  since  participated  in 
equestrian  dances  in  which  more  than  a  thou- 
sand horses  and  riders  were  in  action. 

It  would  be  impossible  for  me  to  explain  all 
the  different  figures  and  formations  of  this 
march,  which  continued  for  fifteen  or  twenty 
minutes,  during  which  the  horses  appeared  to 
enjoy  it  fully  as  well  as  did  their  riders.  After 
each  dance  the  riders  walked  their  horses  lei- 
surely about  the  field  in  couples  and  groups,  the 
gentlemen  engaging  partners  for  future  dances. 
The  dances  were  similar  to  quadrilles,  the  par- 
ticipants usually  forming  in  sets  of  fours,  and, 
while  being  danced,  the  horses  were  sometimes 
in  a  walk  and  at  other  times  in  a  trot  or  canter ; 
their  gait  being  controlled  by  the  riders  by  the 


110  Beyond  the  Horizon 

use  of  the  crop.  At  times  a  few  couples  would 
not  join  in  a  dance,  and  I  noticed  that  their 
horses  were  restless  while  the  band  was  play- 
ing, and  apparently  eager  to  be  taking  part  with 
the  others. 

They  were  a  happy,  merry  people,  free  from 
care  and  trouble.  There  were  youths  and 
maidens  exchanging  sly  glances  of  admiration, 
coquettish  smiles  and  looks  which  might  lead  to 
a  new  home  to  be  constructed  and  fitted  up  in 
this  newly  settled  district, — a  home  in  which  to 
raise  their  children,  love,  live,  grow  old  and  die, 
without  thought  of  the  morrow,  and  without 
payment  of  rent,  taxes,  interest,  or  assess- 
ments :  a  home  not  only  to  be  used  and  occupied 
by  them  while  life  lasts,  but  by  their  children's 
children's  children  who  might  follow  after 
them.  Cupid  that  evening  was  perched  upon 
the  grandstand,  and  mayhap  the  heart  of  more 
than  one  youth  and  maiden  was  pierced  by  his 
well-directed  dart,  which  he  knows  so  well  how 
to  cast. 

Finally  a  gentleman,  who  had  been  selected 
as  the  leader  for  the  evening,  announced  that 
all  would  form  for  the  last  quadrille  and  re- 
quested the  band  to  play  the  usual  music  for 
that  dance.  As  he  uncovered  his  head  in  mak- 
ing the  announcement  I  recognized  him  as  one 
of  the  workmen  I  had  observed  laboring  in  the 
park  that  afternoon.  Up  to  that  time  it  had 
not  occurred  to  me  that  the  greater  number 


An  Equestrian  Dance  111 

of  these  people  I  had  been  so  interested  in 
watching  were  mechanics  and  laborers ;  uncon- 
sciously, from  their  looks  and  manners,  I  had 
thought  of  them  as  members  of  that  wealthy 
and  gay  society  of  which  I  had  seen  so  much  in 
my  world, — persons  with  nothing  to  do  but  fol- 
low the  pleasures  of  the  day  and  amuse  them- 
selves and  one  another. 

The  last  dance  was  particularly  interesting 
and  beautiful.  As  in  the  first,  all  the  riders  took 
part.  In  forming,  the  leaders  took  a  position 
in  the  center  of  the  field  and  the  other  riders 
formed  in  four  converging  lines.  When  the 
music  commenced  the  riders,  maintaining  their 
formation  and  with  perfect  alignment,  rode 
several  times  around  the  field  on  a  trot,  in  a 
figure  that  resembled  a  large  wheel  in  motion, 
then,  breaking  into  a  canter  and  following  the 
leaders,  they  rode  down  the  field  to  the  circular 
end,  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  in  separate  lines, 
when  they  crossed  over  and  swerved  to  the  right 
and  left  back  on  the  outside  to  the  other  end, 
where,  swinging  into  line  across  the  field  the 
ladies  and  gentlemen,  in  alternate  positions, 
rode  down  to  the  band  platform  at  a  full  gallop. 
The  music,  which  before  had  been  lively,  now 
broke  into  a  rollicking  chorus,  in  which  the  rid- 
ers joined,  with  their  crops  waving  in  harmony 
with  the  time  of  the  music  as  they  swept  down 
the  field.  During  the  remainder  of  the  dance 
the  voices  of  the  riders  mingled  with  the  music 


112  Beyond  the  Ilorizon 

of  the  band,  the  spectators  also  joining  most 
heartily  in  the  last  chorus. 

As  we  went  out  with  the  crowd,  I  noticed  that 
many  of  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  wore  riding 
clothes,  and  that  all  were  well  dressed  and  well 
mannered.  Upon  our  way  to  the  hotel  I  com- 
mented upon  the  exceptionally  fine  quality  of 
the  music  which  the  band  had  rendered,  and  in- 
quired how  they  were  paid;  then  noticing  the 
look  of  amusement  that  Creon  gave  me,  I 
changed  the  expression  to : 

"How  are  they  provided  for?" 

"We  have,"  Creon  replied,  "musicians — vo- 
cal and  instrumental, — who  make  it  their  pro- 
fession, and  also  leaders  of  bands  and  teachers 
of  music.  Most  of  the  orchestras,  such  as  fur- 
nished us  music  at  our  dinner  this  evening,  are 
not  required  to  perform  other  labor.  But  bands 
such  as  furnished  the  music  to-night  and  play 
of  an  evening  in  the  parks  are  made  up  of 
amateurs,  who  play  for  the  practice  and  enjoy- 
ment they  derive  from  so  doing.  All  of  our 
children  receive  a  musical  training  and  can  play 
some  instrument  with  a  greater  or  less  degree 
of  skill.  There  are  some  who,  not  particularly 
caring  for  music,  or  becoming  more  interested 
in  something  else,  give  it  up  as  they  advance  in 
life,  but  you  will  find  that  the  people  here  are 
very  fond  of  music,  and,  as  they  have  plenty  of 
time  to  devote  to  it  they  gave  it  much  atten- 
tion." 


An  Equestrian  Dance  113 

By  this  time  we  had  arrived  at  the  hotel,  and 
soon  after,  Hallie, — I  cannot  speak  of  her  by 
any  other  name, — and  her  friends  made  us  a 
visit,  but  the  hour  being  late  they  remained  only 
for  a  short  time. 

Before  they  left  it  was  arranged  that  she 
should  join  us  in  the  town  at  the  head  of  the 
lake  and  from  there  continue  with  us  to  the 
end  of  our  journey. 

' '  What  a  day ! "  I  thought,  as  I  lay  reviewing 
all  I  had  heard  and  seen  since  I  had  left  the 
car  in  the  pocket  of  the  mountain  that  morning, 
— "and  what  a  people,  and  what  a  system! 
Never  did  any  man  of  my  world  pass  a  day  like 
it  before.  It  has  been  left  to  me,  of  all  the 
millions,  to  see  and  mingle  with  a  people  who 
have  been  lifted  out  of  the  darkness  of  barbar- 
ism into  the  light  of  civilization  and  enlighten- 
ment and  taught  to  live  a  life  of  reason, — a 
life  simple  and  natural." 

It  then  seemed  to  me  that  upon  returning  to 
my  world  it  would  only  be  necessary  for  me 
to  unfold  what  I  had  observed  in  the  one  day 
I  had  spent  within  the  influence  of  this  new 
world's  environment,  and  the  darkness  would 
be  cleared  away  and  the  people  freed  from  war, 
wealth,  and  poverty. 

As  I  lay  thinking  of  it  all,  and  of  the  happi- 
ness and  enjoyments  of  life  that  would  follow 
down  the  years  and  centuries  to  come,  the 
thought   that   I   might   be   the   instrument  by 


114  Beyond  the  Horizon 

means  of  which  all  this  could  be  accomplished 
gave  me  the  feeling  that  I  must  return  and  pro- 
claim what  I  had  found.  While  these  thoughts 
were  passing  through  my  mind  my  eyelids  be- 
came heavy  and  closed.  Visions  of  scarlet 
coats,  flashing  eyes,  the  wave  of  a  crop,  a  glance, 
and  a  smile,  with  merry  laughter  mingled  with 
strains  of  music  soft  and  low,  floated  before 
me,  and  I  knew  uo  more.  I  was  in  another 
world, — in  the  land  of  dreams :  I  was  asleep. 


CHAPTER  VII 

THE    SYSTEM 

Just  as  I  had  finished  dressing  the  next  morn- 
ing, a  knock  at  the  door  announced  that  Creon 
was  ready  for  our  morning  ride,  and  upon  open- 
ing it  I  found  him  dressed  for  our  journey. 
The  grip  in  his  hand  called  to  my  mind  that  I 
must  make  some  arrangements  regarding  the 
few  personal  effects  that  I  possessed,  and  I  in- 
quired what  I  should  do  with  them. 

"Put  them  into  your  grip  and  we  will  have 
them  checked  to  our  destination,"  he  said,  "and 
when  we  arrive  there  we  will  find  them  at  our 
hotel  ready  for  us.  The  man  here  who  looks 
after  such  matters  will  see  that  they  are  put 
on  the  train.  Upon  their  arrival  they  will  be 
taken  to  the  hotel,  and  when  we  are  assigned  to 
our  rooms,  upon  presenting  our  baggage-checks 
they  will  be  sent  up  to  us.  And  you  do  not  even 
have  to  tip  the  bell  boy  or  trouble  yourself 
about  the  matter  in  the  least.  Come,  let  us  be 
going,  the  morning  is  fine,  and  the  horses  will 
be  ready  for  us  by  the  time  we  reach  the  stable. 
I  am  informed  there  is  an  inn  a  few  miles  down 
the  road,  and  what  do  you  say  to  our  break- 
fasting there?" 

U5 


116  Beyond  the  Horizon 

At  the  stable  we  found  that  our  horses, — a 
splendid  pair  of  bays, — were  being  saddled,  and 
we  were  soon  mounted  and  on  our  way.  Upon 
reaching  the  top  of  a  small  elevation  on  the  out- 
skirts of  the  village,  I  halted,  and  wheeling  my 
horse  about,  sat  looking  at  the  village  that  nes- 
tled among  the  trees.  The  substantial  buildings 
and  comfortable  homes  with  their  lawns,  shrub- 
bery, and  flowers;  the  park  and  fountain  with 
its  crystal  drops  flashing  in  the  morning  sun- 
light ;  the  well-kept  streets ;  the  beautiful  trees 
saved  from  the  forest  to  lend  their  shade  and 
beauty  for  the  enjoyment  of  man;  the  sparkling, 
dancing  river,  being  harnessed  and  made  to 
serve  mankind;  the  well-cultivated  fields,  and 
the  farm  buildings  beyond,  with  the  sunshine 
of  a  glorious  morning  over  all  formed  a  picture 
of  peace,  comfort,  and  plenty  never  to  be  for- 
gotten. 

"That  a  frontier  village, — a  settlement  in  ad- 
vance of  real  civilization!"  I  said  to  myself 
half  aloud.  "What  a  contrast  to  the  frontier 
village, — the  outposts  of  what  we  call  civiliza- 
tion,— in  my  world,  as  I  have  seen  them  in  the 
past.  Here  beauty,  culture,  and  refinement  are 
everywhere  present,  while  in  my  world  there 
would  be  found  the  main  street  used  as  the 
dumping  ground  for  discarded  bottles,  ashes, 
and  other  rubbish, — dusty  when  dry,  and  miry 
when  wet, — lined  with  straggling  buildings  of 
various  sizes  and  shapes,  devoid  of  paint,  and 


The  System  117 

decorated  with  glaring  signs,  announcing  the 
names  of  the  saloon,  dance  hall  or  gambling  den 
by  which  they  are  occupied.  A  place  devoid  of 
beauty,  where  there  are  no  trees  nor  flowers, 
shrubbery  nor  lawns,  parks  nor  fountains; 
where  men,  or  at  least  human  beings,  are  seen 
reeling  along  the  street  and  spending  their  time 
in  fighting,  drinking,  gambling  and  carousing; 
where  there  is  no  place  for  healthful  recreation 
or  innocent  amusements;  no  true  enjoyments; 
where  everything  that  appeals  to  the  brutality 
of  man  is  to  be  found  in  abundance,  and  nothing 
to  satisfy  his  human  longings  and  appeal  to  his 
better  nature;  where  crime,  lewdness,  and  law- 
lessness run  rampant,  and  virtue,  honor  and  de- 
cency are  in  disrepute, — such  are  the  advance 
guards  of  our  system  of  settling  a  new  coun- 
try. But  they  have  passed  away,  and  many  of 
the  natural  beauties  of  a  grand  country,  its 
animal  life  and  resources  are  wasted  and  gone 
forever." 

In  my  world  I  could  see  the  great  West, — 
that  magnificent  empire,  stretching  from  the 
Father  of  Waters  to  the  shores  of  the  Pacific, — 
with  its  forests,  rivers,  streams,  and  lakes;  its 
mountains,  hills,  and  rolling  prairies,  over 
which,  but  a  few  short  years  ago,  roamed  vast 
herds  of  buffalo,  antelope,  and  deer,  which  have 
been  wantonly  killed  and  destroyed  for  the  mere 
pleasure  of  killing  in  barbaric  sport. 

Then,  turning  to  Creon  with  a  feeling  of  sad- 


118  Beyond  the  Horizon 

ness  and  sorrow  that  I  could  not  conceal,  I  ex- 
claimed : 

"What  an  opportunity  my  people,  my  coun- 
try, have  thrown  away.  Would  that  reason  and 
common  sense  had  prevailed  there,  as  here,  in 
disposing  of  our  lands  and  in  the  settlement  of 
our  country!  The  people  controlled  the  lands, 
the  forests  and  all  the  resources  of  a  vast  terri- 
tory,— enough  for  all,  and  more  than  would  be 
needed  for  many  years  to  come.  Yet  they  let 
them  all  go  from  them,  because  they  knew  no 
better;  because  they  had  been  improperly  edu- 
cated and  trained;  because  of  the  idea  of  per- 
sonal ownership,  the  individual  desire  to  have 
and  to  hold,  to  grasp  and  retain,  through  which 
the  majority  have  lost  all.  When  they  had  the 
chance, — when  it  was  all  under  their  control, — 
why  did  they  not  see  the  opportunity  for  the 
betterment  of  mankind1?  Why  could  they  not 
have  seen  that  then  was  the  time  for  the  change 
from  the  old  to  the  new  1  But  it  is  now  too  late. 
The  lands  have  passed  from  the  people  into  the 
hands  of  individual  ownership.  The  forests  are 
being  destroyed.  The  coal  deposits  and  water 
powers  are  controlled  by  capital.  The  shores 
of  the  lakes,  rivers,  and  streams  have  been  de- 
nuded of  timber.  The  hillsides  are  bare,  brown, 
and  eroded.  Our  so-called  civilization  has  done 
its  worst." 

"True,  a  great  opportunity  has  been  cast 
aside  and  lost,"  observed  Creon,  "but  it  is  not 


The  System  119 

too  late,  and  reason  will  in  time  prevail.  Prop- 
erly educate  your  youths,  instill  into  the  minds 
of  the  people  the  true  principles  of  the  brother- 
hood of  man;  take  from  them  the  things  that 
appeal  to  the  brutal  instincts,  and  replace  them 
with  those  that  appeal  to  the  human ;  guide  and 
urge  them  in  the  right  direction ;  surround  them 
with  the  proper  environment,  and  the  final  re- 
sult will  be  certain.  Do  not  use  force  or  vio- 
lence, but  instruct,  guide,  and  direct  and  in  time 
all  will  be  well.  It  takes  time  to  train  a  horse 
or  a  dog  properly,  but  much  longer  properly  to 
train  a  man ;  even  when  it  is  for  his  own  good. 

"A  small  start  has  been  made,  a  beginning 
in  the  right  direction,  by  the  retaining  of  your 
national  parks  and  by  the  laying  out  of  your 
forest  reserves.  Even  though  they  are  laid  out 
in  a  haphazard  manner,  it  shows,  at  least,  that 
the  people  have  caught  the  idea  in  a  small  way, 
and  are  attempting  to  do  something.  At  least 
those  lands  are  not  in  the  hands  of  individual 
ownership,  and  are  safe  for  the  time  being. 
Come,  let  us  be  riding,  or  we  will  be  late  for  our 
breakfast." 

And  continuing  our  journey,  in  a  little  over 
an  hour  we  arrived  at  the  inn  of  which  Creon 
had  spoken  before  starting.  It  was  situated 
in  a  well-cultivated  clearing  of  a  couple  of  hun- 
dred or  more  acres,  and  around  it  were  located 
stables,  barns,  and  other  outbuildings,  giving 
the  place  the  appearance  of  a  well-cultivated 


120  Beyond  the  Horizon 

and  prosperous  farm.  The  land  had  evidently- 
been  cleared  and  the  buildings  constructed 
some  time  before,  and  the  house  had  been 
a  stopping  place  for  travelers  before  the  vil- 
lage we  had  left  was  established.  The  build- 
ings, although  of  lumber,  were  well  built  and 
substantial,  and  everything  about  the  place  was 
neat  and  inviting.  As  we  drew  rein  at  the  door, 
a  young  man  came  from  the  stable  to  take  our 
horses,  and  upon  being  informed  that  we  were 
only  to  stop  for  breakfast,  loosened  the  saddle 
girths  and  fastened  the  horses  to  some  nearby 
hitching  posts.  A  lady  met  us  at  the  door,  and 
upon  Creon's  inquiring  if  we  could  have  break- 
fast, directed  us  to  the  waiting-  or  living-room, 
-ia(ing  that  if  wo  would  be  kind  enough  to  wait 
for  a  short  time  the  meal  would  be  served. 

Although  but  a  room  in  a  wayside  inn  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  chance  traveler,  it  had 
the  appearance  of  a  family  living  room,  and  it 
being  the  first  that  I  had  entered  in  that  new 
world,  I  was  interested  and  observing.  The 
room  was  of  good  size,  with  high  ceilings,  well, 
and  comfortably  furnished  with  easy  chairs  and 
lounges,  rugs  upon  the  floor,  pictures  upon  the 
walls,  books  upon  the  shelves,  a  reading  table, 
a  piano,  and  the  wTalls  tastefully  decorated 
and  in  harmony  with  the  surroundings.  Withal 
it  was  a  pleasant,  homelike,  habitable  room. 

I  learned  that  the  place  was  established  for 
the  accommodation  of  the  experts  and  engineers 


The  System  121 

at  the  time  they  made  the  survey  and  gath- 
ered their  data  upon  the  resources  of  that  sec- 
tion of  the  country,  and  that  it  had  since  been 
used  as  a  stopping-place  for  travelers,  but  was 
not  then  as  much  frequented  as  formerly,  on 
account  of  the  hotel  in  the  village  being  so  near. 
Creon  informed  me  that  inns  of  this  kind  were 
maintained  along  all  of  the  principal  highways, 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  public. 

While  we  were  talking,  the  proprietor,  as  I 
must  call  him,  a  gentleman  of  about  forty  years 
in  appearance,  came  in  with  the  young  man  who 
had  looked  after  our  horses,  and  both  of  them 
greeted  us  with  that  good-natured  freedom  that 
I  had  observed  in  the  manner  of  all  the  people 
toward  one  another. 

Breakfast  was  soon  announced,  and  as  we 
entered  the  dining-room,  the  lady  who  had  met 
us  at  the  door  and  a  young  girl  of  about  sixteen 
entered  from  another  room.  There  was  only 
one  dining-table  in  the  room,  at  which  the  six 
of  us  were  soon  seated ;  and  it  was  plainly  to  be 
seen  that  we  were  breakfasting  with  the  family 
as  if  we  were  friendly  guests  instead  of  tran- 
sient travelers.  The  ride  and  morning  air  had 
furnished  me  with  a  good  appetite,  and  as  I 
glanced  over  the  table,  I  saw  that  there  would 
be  no  need  of  my  leaving  it  with  my  appetite 
unsatisfied.  The  equestrian  dance  of  the  eve- 
ning before, — at  which  they  had  all  been  pres- 
ent,— being  referred  to,  I  made  mention  of  the 


122  Beyond  the  Horizon 

fact  that  it  bad  been  very  interesting  to  me, 
being  the  first  one  I  had  ever  attended. 

' '  The  first  one  you  ever  attended  ? ' '  exclaimed 
the  young  man.  "Why,  I  did  not  suppose  there 
could  be  any  one  who  had  never  attended  an 
equestrian  dance !" 

Then,  noticing  my  embarrassment,  he  politely 
apologized,  and  the  conversation  was  quickly 
turned  to  another  subject.  Soon  recovering  my 
composure  and  desiring  to  take  part  in  the  con- 
versation, I  remarked  to  our  host  that  they 
were  very  pleasantly  situated,  with  beautiful 
surroundings,  and  inquired  how  long  he  had 
made  the  place  his  residence. 

"I  helped  to  cut  the  first  trail  up  the  river 
from  the  head  of  the  lake,"  he  replied.  "That 
was  before  the  experts  and  surveyors  came  in, 
and  then  I  helped  to  clear  the  land  and  construct 
these  buildings  and  have  resided  here  ever 
since.  You  know,  I  am  a  great  lover  of  nature 
and  very  much  enjoy  hunting,  and  here  I  have 
had  ample  opportunity  to  gratify  those  hobbies 
of  mine, — studying  nature  and  making  investi- 
gations,— wThich  I  could  not  have  done,  except 
on  the  outskirts  of  civilization." 

"But  how  do  you  hunt  and  kill  game  with- 
out firearms!"  I  asked  in  surprise,  having  un- 
derstood from  Creon  that  hunting  was  not  one 
of  the  sports  of  these  people.  And  I  imme- 
diately saw  that  I  had  made  another  mistake, — 
the   second   one   within  fifteen   minutes, — and 


The  System  123 

then  and  there  I  resolved  that  the  meal  would 
be  finished  in  silence,  so  far  as  I  was  concerned, 
and  that  I  would  get  away  as  soon  as  possible. 
Thinking,  however,  that  Creon  might  be  able  to 
help  me  out  of  my  dilemma  I  turned  to  him, 
but  he  only  gave  me  a  look  of  amusement,  and 
addressing  our  host,  said: 

"You  say  you  are  a  great  lover  of  nature  and 
fond  of  hunting.  If  I  am  not  mistaken,  you 
are  Mr.  Tweto,  the  writer  and  naturalist.  I 
should  have  known  you,  but  it  had  escaped  my 
mind  that  you  lived  in  this  district.  I  am  called 
Creon  by  my  friends." 

"What?  Creon,  the  writer,  scientist  and 
traveler?  Yes,  my  name  is  Tweto,  and  it  gives 
me  great  pleasure  to  meet  you.  I  have  recently 
read  your  book  'The  Planet  of  Gold,'  and  it  is 
almost  unbelievable  that  a  people  so  far  ad- 
vanced as  to  have  a  literature,  who  are  able  to 
read  and  write,  and  who  are  capable  of  think- 
ing and  reasoning,  can  be  so  cruel  and  inhuman 
in  their  treatment  of  one  another.  I  have  under- 
stood that  you  often  start  on  your  trips  from 
somewhere  up  in  yonder  mountains.  I  venture 
to  say  that  you  are  either  about  to  start  or  have 
just  returned  from  one  of  your  flights.  If  re- 
turning, tell  us  if  you  did  not  find  any  change 
for  the  better.  My  heart  bleeds  for  those  peo- 
ple :  they  are  so  miserable  when  they  might  be 
so  happy.  I  think  you  have  well  designated  it 
'The  Planet  of  Gold,'  as  that  metal  seems  to 


124  Beyond  the  Horizon 

be  the  main  source  of  all  their  woes.  From  your 
description  many,  it  seems,  would  be  glad  to  ex- 
tricate themselves  from  their  burdens,  but  seem 
to  be  unable  to  do  so  on  account  of  the  influence 
that  yellow  metal  has  over  them.  Perhaps  you 
brought  back  with  you  something  new  that  will 
be  interesting." 

''Yes,"  replied  Creon,  "I  have  just  returned 
from  a  visit  to  those  people  of  whom  you  speak, 
and  right  glad  I  am  to  get  back  and  bring  with 
me  my  friend  here,  and  secretary." 

"How  long  were  you  there?"  inquired  the 
young  man.  ' '  For  some  time,  I  presume.  You 
must  be  glad  to  return.  I,  too,  have  read  that 
book,  and  it  must  be  a  horrible  place  to  remain 
in  for  any  length  of  time." 

"From  all  I  have  seen  during  the  short  time 
I  have  been  here,"  I  replied,  "I  know  I  will 
have  the  sympathy  of  you  all  when  I  inform 
you  that  I  was  born  and  have  lived  my  whole 
life  upon  that  'Planet  of  Gold,'  as  you  call  it, 
and  would  be  there  now  were  it  not  for  my 
friend  Creon,  who  out  of  the  kindness  of  his 
heart  provided  for  me  the  means  of  visiting  this 
wonderful  planet  of  yours,  or  rather  this  won- 
derful people,  as  I  have  not  observed  any  phy- 
sical difference  between  the  two  worlds." 

After  making  this  confession  I  realized  a 
sense  of  relief,  knowing  that  I  was  now,  at 
least,  an  object  of  sympathy  and  commisera- 
tion as  well  as  one  of  interest,  while  before  I 


The  System  125 

was  not  sure  of  my  standing  in  their  opinion, 
after  the  blunders  I  had  made.  These,  I  could 
well  see,  had  been  almost  unexplainable,  but 
were  now  cleared  away. 

"You  one  of  those  people  from  that  other 
world?"  exclaimed  our  host  in  astonishment, 
rising  from  his  seat  and  grasping  my  hand. 
"Can  it  be  possible?  I  must  confess  that  your 
remark  about  firearms  and  the  killing  of  game 
struck  me  as  peculiar,  and  I  could  not  under- 
stand your  meaning,  but  now  it  is  made  clear. 
With  us  hunting  does  not  mean  killing  as  it 
does  in  your  world.  I  will  be  pleased  to  show 
you  some  of  my  trophies  of  the  hunt  after  we 
have  finished  our  meal,  if  you  will  remind  me  of 
my  promise,  in  the  event  I  overlook  it  in  my 
excitement. ' ' 

"I  am  so  glad  you  told  us,"  remarked  the 
young  lady,  "as  I  was  very  anxious  to  learn 
where  you  had  lived,  since  you  had  never  seen 
one  of  our  dances  until  last  evening.  I  was  half 
tempted  to  ask  you,  but  did  not  want  to  appear 
rude. ' ' 

"Can  it  be  possible,"  inquired  our  hostess, 
"that  in  your  world  husbands  and  wives  with 
families  separate  and  their  children  are  taken 
from  one  parent  and  given  to  the  other,  even 
from  their  mother;  and  that  by  going  through 
some  form,  which  you  call  a  divorce,  they  are 
allowed  to  again  marry  another  person?  It  is 
a  terrible  thing  to  separate  a  family  and  take 


126  Beyond  the  Horizon 

children  away  from  their  parents.  And  yet,  I 
understand,  it  is  done  under  the  guise  of  jus- 
tice, and  that  you  have  men  clothed  with  the 
power  to  do  that." 

"One  thing  that  shocks  me,"  broke  in  the 
young  lady,  "is  that  your  young  girls  fre- 
quently marry  men  because  they  are  possessed 
of  that  which  you  call  wealth,  so  that  they  may 
live  in  idleness,  wear  fine  clothes,  and  have 
servants  to  wait  upon  them." 

"I  must  admit,"  I  replied,  "that  such  things 
do  happen.  But  if  you  could  only  realize  the 
necessity  of  having  wealth  and  position,  you 
would  not,  I  am  sure,  think  too  harshly  of  them. 
The  possession  of  wealth,  you  must  know, 
means  a  life  of  plenty  and  luxury,  if  not  of 
happiness;  while  without  it  one  may  be  con- 
fronted by  hardships  and  want." 

"I  do  not  care  what  it  means,"  she  asserted, 
"I  think  it  is  dreadful.  A  young  lady  here 
would  not  marry  a  man  like  that;  money, 
wealth,  or  anything  else  would  never  be  thought 
of,  and  besides,  I  am  thankful  that  it  is  not 
necessary.  Marriage  here  is  a  sacred  thing, 
and  continues  forever." 

"I  realize  that  here  there  is  no  necessity  for 
marriages  for  money,  or  position,"  I  said.  "In 
fact,  there  could  not  very  well  be.  And  yet,  I 
do  not  understand  why  there  are  no  divorces. 
Even  under  your  social  system  a  married  couple 
might  not  be  congenial,  and,  if  compelled  to 


The  System  127 

continue  in  the  marital  relation  would  both  be 
unhappy;  whereas,  under  other  circumstances 
or  with  some  one  else,  they  would  both  lead 
happy  lives. ' ' 

" Don't  you  know,"  replied  Creon,  "that  in 
the  first  place  many  of  your  unhappy  marriages 
are  brought  about  through  debts,  financial  dis- 
appointments, continual  drudgery  and  worries'? 
Then  with  others  there  is  discontent  in  not  be- 
ing able  to  have  as  much  as  their  friends  and 
neighbors,  which  causes  the  wife  or  husband, 
and  perhaps  both,  to  become  sour,  fretful,  and 
peevish.  Another  cause,  and  a  very  grave  one, 
is  neglect  of  the  wife  and  family  on  account  of 
intoxication  on  the  part  of  the  husband.  And 
then  you  have  those  marriages  that  have  been 
spoken  of,  where  money  and  position  are  the 
controlling  elements.  If  you  will  investigate 
your  divorce  courts,  as  I  have,  you  will  find 
that  practically  all  the  divorces  in  your  country 
are  brought  about  through  one  or  more  of  the 
causes  I  have  mentioned.  Under  our  social  sys- 
tem none  of  these  things  can  exist;  hence  they 
are  all  eliminated  as  a  factor  which  might  bring 
about  a  condition  in  the  life  of  a  married  couple 
where  a  divorce  would  be  thought  of  and  wel- 
comed. Again,  with  us  the  husband  and  wife 
are  never  worn  out,  tired,  and  discouraged. 
They  have  plenty  of  leisure  which  they  enjoy 
with  each  other  and  with  their  friends.  And 
besides,  they  do  not  believe  in  or  know  anything 


128  Beyond  the  Horizon 

about  divorces.  They  have  never  been  educated 
to  understand  that  if  either  desired  a  separa- 
tion, there  are  lawyers  ready  to  provide  the 
means,  and  judges  clothed  with  power  to  grant 
what  they  desire." 

' '  I  can  now  very  readily  comprehend, ' '  I  said, 
"not  only  the  reason  why  your  people  do  not 
have  divorces  but  also  why  my  people  have  so 
many.  Being  a  bachelor  myself,  I  have  never 
given  the  subject  much  thought,  although  I  have 
realized  that  it  wTas  one  of  our  great  social  evils, 
and  the  cause  of  much  misery." 

During  the  meal  the  conversation  drifted  to 
our  money  system,  and  producing  from  his 
pocket  a  ten-dollar  gold  piece  and  a  five-dollar 
bill, — one  of  our  treasury  notes, — Creon  ex- 
plained how  they  were  used  in  paying  for  labor 
and  for  procuring  the  necessities  of  life,  the 
acquiring  of  lands,  goods  and  chattels,  food  and 
clothing;  how  they  were  the  foundation  of  our 
whole  industrial  and  social  systems,  and  that 
with  them  one  could  procure  anything  desired, 
and  without  them  would  suffer  for  the  necessi- 
ties of  life  and  even  die  of  cold  and  hunger,  not- 
withstanding there  was  food  in  plenty. 

He  told  them  of  the  idleness  and  waste;  of 
the  luxuries  enjoyed  by  those  who  had  them  in 
plenty,  and  of  the  wretchedness  and  suffering 
endured  by  those  who  were  unable  to  procure 
them.  He  dwelt  upon  the  insensate  desire  of 
many  to  procure  and  retain  them  from  others 


The  System  129 

and  of  the  toil  without  ceasing  of  the  many,  in 
order  to  procure  sufficient  to  maintain  life  it- 
self. 

When  he  had  finished  tears  stood  in  the  eyes 
of  the  ladies,  and  the  young  man  was  thoughtful 
and  silent. 

"Can  it  be  possible?"  exclaimed  Mr.  Tweto. 
"I  cannot  understand  it  at  all.  It  seems  so 
unnecessary  and — inhuman. ' ' 

"I  can  now  very  readily  appreciate  your  feel- 
ings," I  replied,  "but  I  will  have  to  confess  that 
until  I  became  acquainted  with  your  wonderful 
system  I  did  not  see  anything  very  radically 
wrong  with  ours.  I  felt  that  something  should 
be  done  to  relieve  the  very  poor,  and  that  those 
who  depended  upon  their  daily  labor  for  an  ex- 
istence did  not  receive  all  that  they  were  en- 
titled to,— that  there  should  be  something  done 
in  their  behalf;  but  I  had  never  thought  of 
anything  approaching  the  conditions  I  have 
found  here.    It  would  have  seemed  impossible. 

After  finishing  our  meal,  we  were  preparing 
to  leave,  when  our  host  insisted  that  we  have 
our  horses  put  in  the  stable  and  remain  for  the 

day. 

"Why  must  you  go?    I  cannot  permit  it,     he 

exclaimed.    "To  have  you  and  Creon  just  re- 
main for  breakfast— it  is  unreasonable,   and 
cannot  be  thought  of." 
' '  I  quite  agree  with  you, ' '  Creon  replied.       I 


130  Beyond  the  Horizon 

cannot  forego  the  pleasure  of  remaining,  and 
will  therefore  accept  your  invitation." 

"Good!  We  will  make  a  day  of  it,"  he  ex- 
claimed, with  the  enthusiasm  of  a  boy, — and  we 
did. 

After  finishing  breakfast,  our  host  invited 
Creon  and  myself  to  accompany  him  to  what  he 
called  his  workroom, — a  large,  comfortable, 
well-lighted  room  in  the  rear  of  the  house. 
The  walls  on  two  sides  were  lined  with  books; 
and  books,  writing  material,  papers,  and  manu- 
scripts were  scattered  over  a  large  work-table 
near  one  of  the  windows. 

"This,"  he  said,  as  we  entered  "is  where  I 
spend  much  of  my  spare  time.  My  son  helps 
me  look  after  the  farm  and  the  guests  of  the 
house,  which  occupies  more  of  our  time  than  it 
would  if  we  labored  in  the  fields  with  the  men 
who  only  work  five  hours  during  the  busy  sea- 
son. We  have  over  two  hundred  acres  under 
cultivation  and  in  pasture,  which  my  son  and  I 
superintend.  This,  you  know,  is  much  larger 
than  the  ordinary  farm,  and  as  soon  as  the  sur- 
rounding country  is  settled,  it  will  either  be  cut 
up  into  small  farms,  or  be  devoted  exclusively 
to  stock  raising. 

"The  men  who  work  on  the  farm  are  all 
young,  unmarried  men,  who  will  take  farms 
themselves  when  they  marry.  As  this  district 
is  new,  and  really  just  being  formed,  we  have 
not  yet  settled  down  to  the  regular  system  of 


The  System  131 

a  completely  developed  country.  On  the  farm 
we  only  raise  enough  fruit  and  vegetables  for 
our  own  use,  and  our  surplus  horses  and  cattle 
we  deliver  to  the  stable  in  the  village.  During 
the  summer  season  the  men  prefer  to  work  from 
six  in  the  morning  until  eleven,  and  then  they 
have  the  remainder  of  the  day  to  themselves." 

"How  do  they  spend  their  leisure  time?"  I 
inquired,  as  from  observation  in  my  world  I 
had  found  that  farmers  and  their  help  usually 
work  from  daylight  until  dark,  and  their  leisure 
hours  are  few. 

"They  have  no  difficulty  about  that,  I  assure 
you, ' '  he  replied.  ' '  They  read,  study,  play  ten- 
nis and  other  games,  hunt,  fish  or  ride  up  to 
the  village  and  amuse  themselves  with  whatever 
may  be  going  on  up  there.  One  of  the  young 
men  here  is  the  champion  tennis  player  in  this 
part  of  the  country.  They  frequently  go  to 
town  and  play,  and  often  people  from  there 
come  here.  We  have  some  very  fine  courts, 
which  you  probably  have  not  yet  observed. 
Tennis  with  us  is  a  favorite  game,  especially 
among  the  younger  people." 

"You  speak  of  hunting  and  fishing.  I  have 
learned  that  hunting  is  different  with  your  peo- 
ple from  what  it  is  with  us,  but  how  about  the 
fishing?"  I  inquired. 

"I  can  probably  answer  that  question  bet- 
ter than  Mr.  Tweto,"  said  Creon.  "We  fish 
with  rod  and  reel  as  you  do,  and  for  the  sport 


132  Beyond  the  Horizon 

of  it,  as  well  as  for  the  fish  for  food;  but  they 
are  never  taken  in  any  other  manner.  Seining, 
netting,  and  that  sort  of  thing  are  unknown, 
and,  if  attempted,  would  not  be  tolerated.  The 
lakes,  rivers  and  streams  are  not  polluted  by 
sewer  deposits  and  other  refuse,  but  are  kept 
well  stocked  with  fish.  If  you  are  a  lover  of 
that  kind  of  sport,  I  will  see  that  you  have  some 
that  is  good.  Fish  is  a  favorite  food  with  us, 
and  as  they  prey  and  practically  live  upon  each 
other,  we  feel  that  by  catching  the  larger  ones 
we  protect  the  smaller  ones  from  being  de- 
voured. ' ' 

"That,"  I  observed,  "reminds  me  of  your 
promise  to  show  us  some  of  your  trophies  of 
the  hunt.  I  cannot  imagine  what  they  are,  but 
I  am  sure  they  will  be  interesting." 

"Before  showing  my  trophies  I  must  tell  you 
that  instead  of  going  forth  with  an  instrument 
of  death  in  our  hands,  to  kill  and  destroy  ani- 
mals and  birds,  we  go  with  a  camera,  and  pho- 
tograph them  in  all  their  natural  beauty.  I 
do  not  mean  that  old-time  hunters,  like  myself, 
photograph  every  animal  and  bird  we  come 
across, — only  the  most  beautiful  specimens, 
having  regard  to  their  position  and  surround- 
ings. Then  we  enlarge  and  color  the  pictures 
and  make  them  as  true  to  life  as  possible.  Did 
yon  notice  the  picture  of  an  elk  in  the  dining- 
room  at  the  hotel  when  you  were  there?  That 
is  some  of  my  work,  and  I  spent  much  time  in 


The  System  133 

following  that  beauty  before  I  caught  him  in 
just  the  position  to  suit  me,  and  after  that  I 
spent  much  more  time  in  enlarging  and  color- 

"Now,  in  this  portfolio  I  keep  my  bird  speci- 
mens, which  are  enlarged  to  natural  size  and 
colored  as  true  to  nature  as  I  am  capable  of 
making  them.  I  want  to  call  your  attention  to 
this  robin  feeding  her  young,  and  to  the  grace- 
ful pose  of  the  mother  bird,  as  she  is  about 
to  drop  the  worm  into  the  mouth  of  the  young- 
ster who  appears  to  have  the  longest  neck,  as 
well  as  the  largest  mouth,  of  the  lot.  Then  this 
grouse  just  springing  into  the  air  as  he  takes 
to  flight,  with  wings  half  spread  and  head  erect, 
—the  very  perfection  of  graceful  motion.  It 
takes  time  and  patience  to  get  pictures  like 
these,  but  it  is  well  worth  the  time  and  trouble. 
In  these  later  years  I  hunt  for  days  at  a  time, 
and  perhaps  see  hundreds  of  birds  and  animals, 
without  getting  a  specimen;  but  what  a  satis- 
faction when  I  get  one  just  as  I  want  it !  And 
how  much  better  it  is  than  to  lay  it  low,  to 
take  its  life,  and  destroy  it  forever.  With  your 
people  it  is  the  desire  to  extinguish  life;  with 
us  to  perpetuate.  These  birds  and  that  elk  that 
you  saw  in  the  dining-room  of  the  hotel  are 
probably  living  to-day  in  all  their  natural 
beauty,  and  their  pictures  will  continue  to  exist, 
we  know  not  for  how  long,  to  please  the  eye  of 
mankind  and  add  to  the  enjoyment  of  life." 


134  Beyond  the  Horizon 

"No  one  can  doubt  but  your  way  is  the  bet- 
ter," I  said.  "To  destroy  life,  for  the  mere 
sake  of  killing,  and  to  derive  pleasure  from  so 
doing  must  be  barbaric,  and  is  wrong  and  in- 
human. But  tell  me, — what  do  you  do  with  all 
your  specimens?  Are  they  yours,  or  do  they, 
like  everything  else  here,  as  I  understand,  be- 
long to  no  one  but  to  all?" 

"My  work  of  this  kind  is  all  done  during  my 
leisure  hours;  the  hours  that  are  mine  to  do 
with  as  I  like,  and  consequently  I  can  do  with 
my  specimens  as  I  please.  Some  of  them  I  give 
my  friends,  and  a  great  many  I  turn  over  to 
the  people,  and  they  are  placed  in  homes  and 
public  places.  You  and  friend  Creon  are  now 
to  select  any  one  for  yourselves  that  you  like 
best,  and  it  will  always  give  me  great  satisfac- 
tion and  pleasure  to  know  that  you  have  them." 

And  as  I  write,  the  grouse  just  springing 
into  flight,  as  it  hangs  on  the  wall  of  my  room, 
reminds  me  of  my  flight  to  that  happy  land, 
and  of  the  days  i  there  spent  among  its  con- 
tented and  happy  people.  There  it  hangs  in 
all  its  natural  beauty,  graceful  and  artistic,  not 
bedraggled  and  bloody,  stark,  cold,  dead, — its 
life  blotted  out  in  sport  by  man  calling  himself 
a  superior  human  being.  It  is  not  death  but 
life,  represented  in  all  its  activity  and  natural 
beauty.  An  object  lesson  to  those  who  derive 
pleasure  from  killing, — from  blotting  out  the 
life  of  the  innocent,  the  harmless,  and  the  beau- 


The  System  135 

tiful.  Something  to  admire,  study  and  think 
about.  To  me  it  represents  the  civilization  and 
enlightenment  of  a  human  race. 

After  selecting  our  specimens,  which  were  to 
be  forwarded  to  Creon's  home,  our  conversa- 
tion drifted  to  the  subject  of  government;  the 
administration  of  justice  between  man  and  man, 
and  the  social  obligations  that  rest  upon  every 
man  toward  all  other  men. 

"Do  you  not  have  any  government,  any  laws, 
or  any  governing  body!"  I  inquired.  "I  do 
not  understand  how  you  can  govern  (or,  per- 
haps, it  would  be  better  to  say  control)  the  peo- 
ple, without  any  laws.  Surely  you  must  have 
laws  of  some  form.  No  people  except  savages 
can  get  along  without  them.  Laws  denote  civili- 
zation and  enlightenment,  and  my  people,  I  am 
pleased  to  say,  have  at  least  advanced  thus 
far." 

"Yes,"  replied  Creon,  "we  have  laws,  or  at 
least  a  law,  but  not,  I  believe,  in  the  sense  you 
speak  of.  In  your  world,  and  especially  in  your 
country,  you  certainly  have  laws  in  plenty.  In 
fact,  so  many  that  no  one,  not  even  your  law- 
yers or  those  you  call  judges,  who  administer 
them,  know  fully  what  the  law  is.  Their  offices 
are  lined  with  books  containing  the  law,  volume 
upon  volume,  and  those,  I  am  informed,  only 
contain  a  very  small  portion  of  the  laws  that 
have  been  enacted  by  your  law-making  bodies, 
and   declared  by  your  courts.     You   have   so 


136  Beyond  the  Horizon 

many  kinds  of  law,  and  so  much  of  it,  that  a 
great  deal  is  overlooked  and  forgotten.  You 
make  laws  and  then  repeal  them;  and  that 
which  may  be  considered  a  good  law  at  one  time 
may  soon  after  not  be  the  law  at  all.  Upon  in- 
vestigating your  system  of  jurisprudence  I  find 
you  have  constitutional  laws,  congressional 
laws,  legislative  laws,  municipal  laws  and  case 
law.  And  then,  if  none  of  those  will  fit  the  case 
in  hand,  or  rather  in  court,  you  go  back  a  few 
centuries  and  dig  up  the  law  as  it  was  then  in 
some  other  country.  This  you  call  the  common 
law,  and  mete  out  justice  under  that,  whether 
it  applies  to  the  case  and  present  conditions  or 
not.  I  have  attended  your  courts  and  it  seemed 
to  me  that  injustice  is  dealt  out  about  as  often 
as  justice. 

''As  it  appears  to  me,  one  lawyer  will  get  up 
and  state  the  law  which  applies  to  his  side  of 
the  case  and  produce  book  after  book  to  prove 
it.  Then,  after  he  has  finished,  the  lawyer  rep- 
resenting the  other  side  will  prove  by  even 
more  books  to  the  contrary.  And  after  they 
have  talked  themselves  out,  the  judge  will  prob- 
ably declare  that  both  are  wrong,  and  decide 
the  case  upon  what  he  thinks  the  law  is.  By 
the  time  the  whole  matter  is  finally  disposed  of 
and  settled,  the  litigants  are  exhausted  in  mind, 
body,  and  purse.  Yes,  you  have  laws,  and  you 
have  men  clothed  with  power  to  enforce  them, 
but  do  your  laws  insure  to  man  liberty,  equality, 


The  System  137 

and  justice?  Do  they  prevent  man's  inhuman- 
ity to  man?" 

"I  must  admit,"  I  replied,  "that  we  do  not 
always  get  the  best  results,  and  our  laws  and 
manner  of  enforcing  them  do  not  in  every  in- 
stance deal  out  the  same  justice  to  the  poor  as 
to  the  rich.  I  have  often  thought  that  we  have 
too  many  laws,  and  that  our  system  could  be 
improved;  but  it  seems  as  if  every  time  we 
try  an  innovation  we  make  it  worse." 

"The  only  law  we  have,"  said  Mr.  Tweto, 
"is  the  law  of  the  brotherhood  of  man,  which 
means  that  all  men  are  free  and  equal  and  must 
deal  justly  by  one  another.  That  all  are  en- 
titled to  receive  their  share  of  the  products  of 
the  earth  and  the  enjoyments  of  life, — the  same 
as  all  others, — and  no  more.  And  so  receiving, 
must  perform  their  share  in  return  according 
to  their  ability. 

"That  is  our  unwritten  law,  known,  recog- 
nized, and  lived  up  to  by  all.  What  more  is 
needed!  Beyond  that  you  cannot  go.  It  insures 
peace,  comfort,  contentment,  and  happiness. 
The  full  enjoyment  of  life  is  guaranteed  to 
every  one,  and  all  that  is  required  is  that  each 
individual  shall  do  his  or  her  part,  and  who  is 
not  willing  to  do  that?  Under  our  law,  if  you 
may  call  it  such,  there  is  nothing  to  induce 
crime,  and  all  social  evils  are  done  away  with. ' ' 

"In  my  world,"  I  said,  "we  have  the  idea 
that  we  can  cure  all  social  evils,  prevent  crime, 


138  Beyond  the  Horizon 

and  regulate,  govern  and  do  justice  to  all 
through  the  enactment  of  laws.  When  a  law 
does  not  prove  effectual,  we  repeal  that  and 
take  up  another,  and  so  we  go  on  trying  out 
this  idea  and  then  that,  but  do  not  seem  to  get 
any  nearer  the  goal  for  which  we  are  striving. ' ' 
"And  by  pursuing  that  course  you  never 
will,"  exclaimed  Creon.  "You  cannot  regulate 
and  control  human  nature  by  the  enactment  of 
laws.  And  I  should  think  your  people  by  this 
time  would  so  realize  and  abandon  that  old, 
worn-out  idea  which  has  proven  such  a  failure 
through  long  years  of  trial  and  disappoint- 
ments. Something  may  be  accomplished,  of 
course.  A  man  may  attempt  to  bail  out  the 
ocean,  and  after  working  for  a  long  time  will 
find  that  he  has  succeeded  in  accumulating  what 
looks  to  him  to  be  a  large  amount  of  water  in 
his  reservoir;  but  when  he  turns  to  the  ocean 
to  see  how  far  he  has  succeeded  in  his  enter- 
prise, he  finds  that  other  waters  have  flowed 
in  and  that  it  still  remains  the  same  body  of 
water,  the  same  old  ocean,  and  that  all  of  his 
efforts  have  been  in  vain.  And  so  it  is  with 
your  people.  They  strive  and  struggle;  they 
enact  laws  and  repeal  them,  and  while  these 
laws  are  in  force  they  punish  men  for  their  vio- 
lation by  fines  and  imprisonment,  thereby  caus- 
ing suffering  and  disgrace  to  the  wives  and 
children  of  the  so-called  offenders ;  and,  like  the 
man  who  attempts  to  bail  out  the  ocean,  they 


The  System  139 

really  accomplish  nothing.  A  man  violates  a 
law,  is  arrested,  and  thrown  into  prison.  The 
family,  though  innocent,  are  deprived  of  the 
earnings  of  the  husband  and  father  and  in 
many  (if  not  in  most)  instances,  are  thus  made 
to  suffer  hardships,  and  perhaps  reduced  to 
want ;  while  the  government,  as  you  call  it,  sup- 
ports the  offender,  in  many  instances  in  idle- 
ness. 

"That  is  what  your  people  call  justice  and 
think  they  are  progressive  human  beings.  In- 
stead of  teaching,  training,  and  educating, 
your  people  punish,  use  force  and  violence. 
Instead  of  surrounding  man  with  an  environ- 
ment that  is  good  and  which  appeals  to  his  bet- 
ter nature,  you  surround  him  with  that  which  is 
bad  and  tends  to  deaden  and  destroy  even  the 
little  within  him  that  is  good.  Instead  of  mak- 
ing a  man  better,  your  methods  make  him 
worse.  By  punishment  and  by  the  use  of  force, 
you  may  conquer  a  man,  but  you  can  never 
thereby  make  of  him  a  better  man,  nor  can  you 
teach  him  either  to  honor  or  respect  the  laws 
under  which  he  is  punished  and  his  family 
caused  to  suffer  humiliation  and  disgrace. 

"Did  you  ever  stop  to  think  of  the  unreason- 
ableness and  the  injustice  of  it  all;  of  your  in- 
human treatment  of  those  you  call  criminals; 
and  of  the  inconsistency  and  impracticability  of 
your  whole  plan  of  meting  out  justice?  Prob- 
ably not,  as  your  whole  people  have  become  so 


140  Beyond  the  Horizon 

imbued  with  the  idea  of  government  by  law, 
and  of  punishment  for  its  violation,  that  they 
cannot  comprehend  any  other  method ;  and  with 
few  exceptions,  are  unable  even  to  see  the  re- 
sulting wrongs  and  injustices. 

"Did  you  ever  attend  a  police  court  in  one 
of  your  larger  cities,  when  it  was  in  full  opera- 
tion, and  watch  the  flotsam  of  humanity  being 
disposed  of  under  your  laws?  If  you  have,  tell 
me,  did  you  find  there  any  mercy  being  shown 
to  the  miserable  and  unfortunate,  or  anything 
being  done  that  would  tend  to  make  those  poor 
outcast  wretches  any  better?  Laws,  like  gov- 
ernments are  a  relic  of  barbarism,  and  are  only 
necessary  to  control  fierce  and  savage  men, — 
not  to  apply  to  men  who  have  been  properly 
educated  and  trained,  and  who  are  surrounded 
by  proper  environment ;  who  are  human  beings 
in  the  full  sense  of  the  term;  who  are  civilized 
and  enlightened." 

"I  will  admit  that  all  you  have  stated  is 
true,"  I  said.  "From  the  little  I  have  already 
seen  of  your  system  during  the  short  time  1 
have  been  here,  I  realize  that  the  government 
of  my  country  and  its  laws  do  not  bring  the 
greatest  good  to  the  greatest  number;  that  my 
people  have  much  to  learn,  and,  like  the  savage 
tribes  of  the  wilderness,  the  majority  are  sat- 
isfied with  their  surroundings  and  conditions 
because  they  know  no  better." 

"You  may  not  know,"  remarked  Mr.  Tweto, 


The  System  141 

"that  men  from  this  world  have  visited  yours 
during  many  years  in  the  past,  and  I  have  taken 
much  interest  in  reading  and  studying  the  books 
they  have  written  about  your  people;  their 
forms  of  government;  their  laws  and  manners 
of  life,  and  especially  in  regard  to  their  relig- 
ious beliefs.  I  find  that  you  all  believe  in  a 
future  life,  and  in  an  all-overruling  Power. 
Your  religion  is  grand,  and  its  teachings  beau- 
tiful, inspiring,  and  sublime.  It  teaches  duty, 
mercy,  and  brotherly  love.  It  warns  against 
the  accumulation  of  riches  and  the  desire  for 
gold.  It  proclaims  peace  on  your  earth  and 
good  will  toward  all  men.  It  denounces  greed, 
hate,  and  envy.  It  bids  you  be  humble,  peace- 
ful, and  loving, — to  love  all  mankind,  and  to 
be  as  brothers  unto  one  another, — to  do  kind- 
ness and  to  maintain  justice.  It  guides  and  di- 
rects you  in  the  life  that  is.  It  forbids  war, 
conflict,  and  strife,  and  demands  that  you  for- 
give your  enemies. 

"By  following  its  precepts  your  people  could 
do  away  with  all  your  miseries  and  troubles. 
You  could  have  peace,  contentment,  and  happi- 
ness. And  while  you  pretend  to  believe  in  it 
all,  you  fail  and  seemingly  refuse  to  be  guided 
by  its  teachings.  Its  words  of  life  fall  as  upon 
dead  ears ;  and  over  that  religion  and  its  teach- 
ings you  even  quarrel  among  yourselves.  While 
you  pretend  that  you  believe  in  its  teachings, 
you  refuse  to  profit  by  them.     But  if  you  do 


142  Beyond  the  Horizon 

believe  in  all  it  proclaims  and  in  its  promises, 
your  acts  show  that  you  are  unworthy  and  un- 
grateful ;  while  if  you  do  not  so  believe,  you  go 
far  enough  to  prove  that  you  are  hypocrites 
and  dissemblers. 

"By  believing  in,  and  conforming  to,  its 
teachings,  there  would  be  no  wars,  no  misery, 
no  want,  and  no  social  evils  to  contend  with. 
By  complying  with  its  precepts  there  would  be 
no  need  of  governments  or  of  laws,  and  justice 
between  man  and  man  would  at  all  times  pre- 
vail, and  you  would  be  a  happy,  carefree,  and 
prosperous  people.  There  is  very  little  differ- 
ence between  our  religious  beliefs  and  those  of 
your  people.  But  with  us,  we  fully  believe  in 
the  teachings  of  our  faith  and  live  in  accord- 
ance with  what  we  believe;  while  your  people 
either  do  not  believe  what  they  profess,  or,  be- 
lieving, care  not  for  its  teachings." 

"I  must  confess,"  I  said,  "that  the  majority 
of  my  people  do  not  give  the  thought  to  our  re- 
ligious belief  that  they  should;  and  I  fear  that 
there  are  many  who  avow  a  faith  in  its  teach- 
ings, but  fail  to  practice  that  which  they  pro- 
fess. But  there  are  a  few  who  do  believe  and 
who  live  lives  in  harmony  with  its  teachings, 
and  for  those,  governments  and  laws  are  unnec- 
essary. They,  and  they  alone,  are  beyond  the 
restraining  influences  of  government  and  laws. 
They,  and  none  others,  of  my  people  have 
reached  a  true  state  of  civilization  and  enlight- 


The  System  143 

enment.  My  people  have  recognized  govern- 
ment and  have  been  controlled  by  laws  so  long 
that,  without  their  restraining  influences,  all 
kinds  of  trouble  might  follow.  The  doing  away 
with  government  and  laws  and  the  ownership 
of  property  have  for  years  been  agitated  by 
some  in  my  world.  But  the  idea  has  been  looked 
upon  as  impracticable  and  as  the  dream  of 
dreamers.  I  believe,  in  fact,  that  the  plan  has 
been  tried  out  in  a  small  way  in  communities 
and  invariably  resulted  in  failure.  While  I 
have  not  so  far  observed  any  difference  be- 
tween the  people  here  and  those  in  my  world, 
there  really  must  be;  and  I  must  ascertain 
what  that  difference  is." 

"In  one  sense,"  observed  Creon,  "there  is  a 
difference,  and  in  another  there  is  not.  The 
people  here  are  human  beings  just  as  your  peo- 
ple are,  with  the  same  instincts,  the  same  pas- 
sions, and  the  same  desires.  But  with  them 
education,  training  and  environment  have  made 
the  change  you  see.  They  have  been  educated 
to  lead  upright,  wholesome  lives.  The  tempta- 
tions that  bring  about  greed  and  selfishness  do 
not  exist.  Your  people  can  bring  about  the 
same  results  in  the  same  manner,  and  by  no 
other. ' ' 

"I  believe  I  comprehend  your  idea,"  I  re- 
plied. "  It  is  all  a  matter  of  training,  habit,  and 
surroundings.  A  man  is  exactly  as  are  those 
with  whom  he  associates;  as  other  men  are  so 


144  Beyond  the  Horizon 

will  he  be,  and  as  they  do  will  he  do  also.  Elimi- 
nate greed  and  'do  unto  others  as  you  would 
have  others  do  unto  you,'  and  nothing  more 
will  be  needed." 

' '  You  have  it, ' '  he  exclaimed, ' '  and  when  your 
people  see,  follow,  and  adopt  that  idea  they  will 
be  as  you  see  us  here." 

"Permit  me,"  I  said,  "to  inquire  regarding 
your  organization  and  plan  of  keeping  up  your 
system,  as  it  cannot  run  itself.  There  must  be 
some  supervision;  some  head  to  keep  it  in  op- 
eration, otherwise  there  would  be  absolute 
chaos. ' ' 

The  system  as  explained  by  our  host  is  very 
simple,  and  I  have  since  found  it  very  effective. 

"In  the  first  place,"  he  began,  "the  country 
is  divided  into  districts  and  sub-districts.  When 
a  man  reaches  the  age  of  sixty  years,  he  is  no 
longer  a  part  of  the  main  working  body  but 
becomes  one  of  the  supervisors  of  the  sub-dis- 
trict in  which  he  resides.  The  sub-districts  are 
small  and  have  a  public  building  in  which  the 
supervisors  meet  and  have  their  headquarters, 
and  each  supervisor  is  provided  with  a  secre- 
tary, so  that  his  duties  may  be  made  as  light 
as  possible.  The  whole  body  is  divided  into 
committees,  which  have  certain  matters  to  look 
after. 

"One  committee  looks  after  the  schools;  an- 
other, the  allotment  of  workmen;  another  is 
charged  with  the  duty  of  providing  with  homes 


The  System  145 

newly  married  couples,  that  desire  to  commence 
housekeeping,  and  of  seeing  that  their  homes  are 
properly  furnished,  while  another  looks  after 
the  amusements  and  makes  provision  for  such 
diversions  as  the  people  need.  Each  committee 
has  different  matters  in  charge.  These  com- 
mittees report  to  the  whole  body  at  regular 
meetings,  and  full  records  are  kept  of  all  pro- 
ceedings. Their  duties  do  not  occupy  much  of 
their  time,  although  as  a  rule  the  sub-district 
supervisors  are  much  interested  in  their  work, 
and  having  worked  and  lived  their  lives  under 
the  same  kind  of  supervision,  are  familiar  with 
the  needs  of  the  people ;  therefore  they  take  up 
their  duties  fully  equipped  for  the  work.  When 
a  man  arrives  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years  he 
becomes  one  of  the  District  Managers  and  con- 
tinues to  occupy  that  position  until  he  reaches 
the  age  of  seventy;  then  for  five  years  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Council,  which  is  the  su- 
preme head  of  the  system.  The  District  Man- 
agers as  a  body  meet  four  times  a  year,  while 
the  Grand  Council  meet  only  twice, — both  doing 
most  of  their  work  through  committees  which, 
like  the  Sub-District  Supervisors,  are  furnished 
with  secretaries. 

"The  work  of  the  District  Managers  is  con- 
fined to  a  general  supervision  of  the  internal  af- 
fairs within  their  district,  and  embraces  what 
you  would  term  public  improvements,  such  as 
the  improvements  of  the  cities  and  towns,  the 


146  Beyond  the  Horizon 

laying  out  of  highways,  and  matters  of  that 
kind.  The  Grand  Council  has  charge  of  matters 
relating  to  the  whole  country.  It  provides  for 
the  forming  of  new  districts,  the  opening  up  of 
new  territory,  the  improvement  of  waterways, 
and  construction  of  railroads. 

''Men  like  our  friend  Creon,  who  make  such 
journeys  as  you  are  aware  of,  report  directly  to 
the  Grand  Council.  You  see,  when  a  man  be- 
comes one  of  the  District  Managers  he  has  had 
five  years'  experience  as  a  Supervisor,  and  then 
when  he  enters  the  Grand  Council  he  has  had 
five  years'  more  as  a  District  Manager." 

"You  see,"  observed  Creon,  "that  men  who 
have  charge  of  our  affairs  are  all  men  of  expe- 
rience and  are  familiar  with  the  matters  they 
are  handling.  In  forming  the  committees,  men 
are  placed  on  those  committees  that  have  charge 
of  the  things  they  are  familiar  with,  and  their 
services  are  of  value  to  the  community.  How 
different  from  your  method  of  dealing  with  pub- 
lic affairs.  Your  people  elect  to  what  you  call 
"office,"  men  who  have  not  had  any  experience 
concerning  the  business  they  are  expected  to  look 
after.  Your  people  are  so  particular  regard- 
ing their  laws,  yet,  for  the  enactment  of  these 
laws,  they  elect  men  who,  in  many  instances, 
are  unfamiliar  with  even  the  ordinary  affairs  of 
life  and  are  possessed  of  no  ability  as  lawmak- 
ers. I  am  afraid  we  may  be  laying  it  on  a  little 
hard,  but  you  are  here  for  the  purpose  of  be- 


The  System  147 

coming  familiar  with  our  system,  and  one  of 
the  best  ways  to  learn  is  by  contrast." 

"How  would  you  like  to  look  over  the  farm 
with  me?"  inquired  Mr.  Tweto.  "There  is 
some  work  in  progress  that  I  must  look  after 
for  a  time,  and  I  would  like  you  to  go  with  me. 
The  day  is  fine  and  it  does  not  seem  right  not 
to  enjoy  it.  You  will  remain  until  to-morrow, 
of  course.  I  have  an  engagement  that  will  take 
me  to  the  lake  to-morrow  and  nothing  could 
please  me  more  than  to  journey  along  with 
you." 

"I  am  the  secretary  to  the  man  who  reports 
to  the  Grand  Council,"  I  replied,  "and  it  is 
for  him  to  say  what  we  shall  do." 

"We  will  remain,  by  all  means"  said  Creon. 
"I  believe  you  have  had  the  idea  that  your 
position  as  secretary  is  to  be  what  your  people 
call  a  sinecure,  but  you  will  find  that  you  have 
some  duties  to  perform.  You  will  yet  learn  that 
every  one  here  performs  his  share,  and  that 
there  are  no  real  idlers  under  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-five years,  which  is  not  old  with  us.  On 
account  of  our  sane  method  of  living,  and  with 
no  worries,  troubles,  cares  and  disappoint- 
ments, we  do  not  grow  old  as  your  people  do, 
but  retain  our  faculties  and  live  much  longer. 
How  old  do  you  think  Mr.  Tweto  is, — basing 
your  judgment  on  guessing  the  age  of  your  peo- 
ple?" 


148  Beyond  the  Horizon 

1 '  I  should  say  that  he  is  a  man  between  forty 
and  forty-five,"  was  my  answer. 

"How  is  that?"  exclaimed  our  host.  "Why, 
I  will  celebrate  my  next  birthday  by  becoming 
one  of  the  supervisors  of  this  sub-district,  and 
I  have  never  thought  I  looked  young  for  my 
age. ' ' 

I  did  not  feel  like  disclosing  my  age,  and  did 
not. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

WE  CONTINUE  OUR  JOURNEY 

In  looking  over  the  place  and  inspecting  the 
buildings,  I  found  the  farm  well  laid  out,  well 
equipped,  and  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
Twelve  or  fifteen  men  were  engaged  in  caring 
for  the  crops  and  performing  the  usual  farm 
work,  and  I  noticed  with  them  the  same  activity 
and  energy  that  I  had  observed  the  day  before 
among  the  men  working  upon  the  power  plant. 

The  work-horses,  like  the  driving-  and  saddle- 
horses  I  had  seen,  were  of  the  best,  and  showed 
good  breeding,  care,  and  attention.  To  describe 
it  all, — with  its  barns,  stables,  silos,  and  other 
outbuildings, — would  be  to  describe  a  well- 
regulated,  well-kept,  up-to-date,  prosperous 
farm  in  my  world.  The  machinery  and  equip- 
ment were  identical  with  ours,  with  the  excep- 
tion that  all  the  buildings  were  lighted  by  elec- 
tricity, and  that  electricity  furnished  the  power 
for  operating  the  feed-mill  and  pumping  the 
water.  Upon  expressing  my  surprise  at  this,  I 
was  informed  that  the  buildings  were  heated  by 
electricity  and  the  cooking  done  by  the  same 
power,  this  being  furnished  from  the  power  line 

149 


150  Beyond  the  Horizon 

which  at  present  conveyed  electricity  to   the 
village. 

The  noonday  meal  was  served  soon  after 
twelve,  and  upon  entering  the  dining-room,  I 
observed  that  the  table  had  been  laid  for  all, 
including  several  young  ladies  and  the  work- 
men who  had  come  in  from  the  fields  at  eleven. 
These  latter  had  taken  their  baths,  changed 
their  clothes,  and  for  the  rest  of  the  day  were 
men  of  leisure, — at  liberty  to  amuse  themselves 
as  they  pleased.  The  young  ladies,  I  learned, 
assisted  Mrs.  Tweto  in  her  household  duties, 
and  by  her  were  instructed  in  the  mysteries  of 
housekeeping.  They  were  all  a  jolly,  happy  lot, 
— young  and  healthy,  and  without  a  care  or 
worry  to  mar  their  enjoyments  of  life.  In  looks, 
manner,  dress,  and  appearance  the  men  re- 
minded me  of  clean  young  college  men,  planning 
their  amusements  for  a  half  holiday. 

The  equestrian  dance  of  the  evening  before, 
which  nearly  all  had  attended,  the  music,  and 
the  merits  of  the  horses  were  discussed  with 
much  interest.  From  the  conversation  of  these 
young  people  it  was  plain  to  be  seen  that  they 
were  well  educated,  and  were  interested  in  the 
serious  and  business  affairs  of  life  as  well  as  in 
their  sports  and  pleasures.  I  soon  learned  that 
during  the  afternoon  a  ball  team  from  the  vil- 
lage was  coming  to  play  against  a  team  made 
up  from  among  the  farm  workmen,  and  that 


We  Continue  Our  Journey  151 

there  would  probably  be  quite  a  gathering  of 
people  to  witness  the  game. 

Two  of  the  young  men  at  table,  while  at  the 
village  the  afternoon  before,  had  examined  the 
plans  made  for  the  future  development  of  the 
district  and  village,  and  were  very  enthusiastic 
over  their  future. 

''Why,"  exclaimed  one,  "we  are  going  to 
have  one  of  the  finest  districts  in  the  country, 
and  our  little  village  will  be  a  city  before  we 
know  it!  They  are  soon  to  commence  the  con- 
struction of  a  new  public  building.  When 
completed,  there  will  not  be  many  much  better, 
and  they  tell  me  the  one  there  now  will  be  turned 
into  a  public  library.  There  are  to  be  sawmills, 
pulp-  and  paper-mills,  box-  and  furniture-fac- 
tories, and  another  plant  for  the  manufacture 
of  almost  everything  that  is  made  of  wood, 
which  will  be  one  of  the  largest  and  best 
equipped  of  its  kind  in  the  country. 

"It  appears  that  there  is  enough  timber  tri- 
butary to  operate  these  mills  and  factories  for 
a  great  many  years,  and  there  will  be  power 
enough  from  the  power  plant  to  operate  them. 
The  opera  house  will  be  larger  than  the  one 
in  the  town  at  the  head  of  the  lake.  The  archi- 
tect informed  me  that  they  were  making  plans 
for  another  hotel,  and  that  there  will  be  con- 
structed within  the  next  two  years  homes 
enough  to  accommodate  over  ten  thousand  peo- 
ple.   I  am  going  to  put  in  my  application  for 


152  Beyond  the  Horizon 

a  farm  right  away.  One  of  the  young  archi- 
tects is  a  good  friend  of  mine,  and  will  make 
the  plans  for  the  house  just  as  soon  as  we  are 
ready. ' ' 

"We  are  ready?"  echoed  one  of  the  young 
men.    "Who  is  it  that  makes  up  the  we?" 

' '  That  is  right, ' '  exclaimed  Mr.  Tweto.  ' '  As 
soon  as  you  are  ready,  you  can  have  one  of  my 
specimens  for  your  library,  and  the  young  lady, 
whoever  she  may  be,  can  have  one  for  her  din- 
ing-room. ' ' 

I  had  noticed  that  one  of  the  young  ladies, — 
a  beautiful  brunette, — during  this  conversation 
was  very  much  interested  in  the  contents  of  her 
plate,  but  when  Mr.  Tweto  mentioned  the  pre- 
senting of  a  specimen  to  the  young  lady  for  her 
dining-room,  she  suddenly  looked  toward  him 
and  seemed  about  to  speak.  However,  she 
blushingly  resumed  her  former  attitude,  while 
the  other  young  ladies  exchanged  knowing 
glances. 

"I  shall  certainly  appreciate  them,  and  I 
thank  you  in  behalf  of  the  young  lady,  as  well 
as  myself,"  politely  replied  the  young  man. 
"They  will  always  remind  me  of  the  pleasant 
days  I  have  spent  with  you  here,  and  of  the  de- 
lightful meals  I  have  enjoyed,"  he  added,  turn- 
ing to  Mrs.  Tweto. 

At  my  request  it  was  not  announced  that  I 
was  from  another  world,  and  remembering  the 
trouble  I  had  experienced  at  the  morning  meal 


We  Continue  Our  Journey  153 

before  that  fact  was  made  known,  I  took  very 
little  part  in  the  general  conversation,  content- 
ing myself  with  listening  and  observing. 

As  soon  as  the  meal  was  finished  the  young 
men  busied  themselves  in  arranging  for  the  af- 
ternoon game,  and  our  host,  Creon,  and  I 
strolled  over  to  the  river,  a  short  distance  away, 
and  seated  ourselves  in  the  shade  of  a  tree  upon 
the  bank  to  enjoy  nature  in  all  her  loveliness. 

For  a  short  time  we  sat  in  silence,  under  the 
spell  of  our  surroundings.  It  was  an  ideal  place 
for  thought  and  contemplation, — with  the  river 
beneath  us,  flowing  onward  to  the  lake  below; 
its  pure  waters  here  placid,  smooth,  and  tran- 
quil, there  hurrying,  leaping,  and  sparkling,  as 
it  rushed  over  its  more  rough  and  rocky  bed. 
Beyond  the  river  stood  the  natural  forest  in 
all  its  grandeur  and  beauty, — the  trees,  shrub- 
bery and  flowers  flashing  forth  their  beauty  in 
the  sunlight  of  a  perfect  day, — habited  by  ani- 
mals and  birds,  free  and  happy,  living,  mating, 
and  rearing,  each  its  kind,  according  to  nature's 
laws. 

From  below  the  murmur  of  waters,  pouring 
over  some  natural  falls  in  its  onward  course, 
came  faintly  to  my  ear,  and, — mingling  with  the 
rustling  of  the  leaves,  the  twitter  and  song  of 
the  birds,  and  the  chatter  of  squirrels, — seemed 
to  be  hymning  contentment  and  peace. 

But  with  me  was  a  disturbed  and  busy  mind. 
I  was  comparing  the  lives  of  the  farm  work- 


154  Beyond  the  Horizon 

men,  with  whom  I  had  just  dined,  with  the  lives 
of  farm  laborers  as  I  had  seen  them  in  my 
world.  A  life  of  toil,  lonesome,  monotonous, 
and  hard;  without  recreation  or  amusement; 
with  long  hours  of  labor;  with  little  hope  of 
anything  better,  and  with  the  chance  of  ever 
possessing  a  home  growing  more  and  more  re- 
mote as  the  years  roll  by. 

Is  it  any  wonder,  I  thought,  that  they  are 
sad  and  discouraged,  and  grow  old  before  their 
time?  Can  one  marvel  that  their  minds  grow 
sour  and  their  bodies  bent,  and  that  many  of 
them,  hoping  to  escape  the  monotony  of  it  all, 
flee  to  the  cities  in  the  vain  hope  that  there  they 
may  at  least  have  the  opportunity  of  mingling 
with  their  fellow-men, — only  to  find,  in  many 
instances,  their  lot  in  life  to  be  even  harder 
than  before,  or  perhaps  to  be  drawn  down  and 
engulfed  in  the  many  whirlpools  of  vice  and 
crime!  Here  the  men  that  I  see, — these  labor- 
ers of  the  fields, — live  happy,  enjoyable  lives; 
are  healthy  in  body  and  mind,  educated,  intel- 
ligent, and  refined ;  a  home,  and  a  good  one,  is 
provided  for  each  of  them  whenever  he  may 
want  it,  and  a  farm  to  go  with  it.  And  with 
it  all  is  the  knowledge  that  whatever  these  la- 
borers produce  will  be  shared  equally  by  all; 
that  they  are  not  working  to  pay  interest,  taxes 
and  assessments;  are  not  working  to  support 
millions  who  either  live  in  idleness  or  employ 


We  Continue  Our  Journey  155 

their  time  in  doing  that  which  is  not  only  use- 
less but  imposes  a  burden  upon  mankind. 

In  my  mind,  joy  and  sadness  mingled.  There 
was  joy  in  the  thought  that  it  was  mine  to  see 
and  associate  with  these  people;  know  them; 
for  a  time  be  a  part  of  them,  and  thereby  be 
able  to  benefit  my  fellow-men.  But  there  was 
sadness  in  the  thought  of  the  millions  in  my 
world  who,  although  striving  for  the  right,  are 
unable  to  raise  themselves  above  their  sur- 
roundings and  are  doomed  to  wretchedness  and 
disappointment;  of  the  solitary  toilers  in  the 
fields,  silently,  sadly,  and  alone  bearing  their 
burdens,  knowing  not  whence  they  come;  of 
the  workers  in  the  mills  and  factories,  barely 
existing  upon  the  wage  received  for  the  work 
performed;  of  those  who,  through  wars,  are 
made  widows  and  orphans;  those  whose  bodies 
are  torn  and  limbs  severed,  made  physical 
wrecks,  thereafter  to  live  a  life  of  suffering  and 
pain;  of  the  homeless,  miserable  and  hungry,— 
all  sacrificed  that  a  nation  may  be  extended  and 
the  ambitions  of  its  rulers  satisfied. 

After  these  thoughts  had  occupied  my  mind 
for  the  moment,  carrying  me  back  to  that  world 
of  mine, — that  world  so  beautiful  and  so  re- 
sponsive to  the  touch  of  man,  in  itself  ideal, 
teeming  with  richness  and  plenty,  and  able, 
ready,  and  willing  to  produce  all  things  neces- 
sary for  man's  needs  and  pleasures, — it  oc- 
curred to  me  that,  nevertheless,  it  would  not 


156  Beyond  the  Horizon 

produce  sufficient  under  the  short  hours  here 
in  operation,  and  I  commenced  to  doubt  if  the 
plan  or  system  in  operation  here  would  work 
satisfactorily  in  my  world.  So,  turning  to  my 
companions,  I  inquired: 

"Am  I  to  understand  that  some  of  your  peo- 
ple work  six  hours,  some  five,  and  others  only 
two  or  three?  I  should  think  that  would  cause 
confusion, — even  discontent, — among  some." 

"We  have  found  after  long  trial,"  replied 
Mr.  Tweto,  "that  this  is  the  most  feasible  ar- 
rangement,— gives  the  best  satisfaction,  and 
provides  for  the  comforts  and  enjoyment  of 
every  one.  You  see,  workmen  who  perform  the 
hardest  of  manual  labor,  such  as  you  saw  being 
performed  yesterday,  workmen  in  foundries 
and  those  engaged  in  that  class  of  hard  labor, 
work  on  the  two-  and  three-hour  basis.  The 
five-hour  class  includes  farmers,  teachers, 
clerks,  and  stenographers,  and  all  who  perform 
work  of  that  kind.  In  the  six-hour  class  are 
those  who  oversee  the  work  of  others, — who 
plan  and  supervise, — professional  men,  such  as 
physicians,  architects  and  civil  engineers,  and 
all  who  are  engaged  in  light  employment ;  many 
of  whom,  when  the  occasion  requires,  voluntar- 
ily work  even  longer  than  the  six  hours. 

' '  Then,  if  any  one  desires  to  take  a  vacation, 
visit  friends,  go  on  a  journey,  or  for  any  reason 
wants  some  days  for  himself,  he  can,  by  work- 
ing over  time,  get  credit,  and  lay  off  for  the 


We  Continue  Our  Journey  157 

number  of  days  credited.  In  this  way  the  peo- 
ple are  not  bound  down  to  perform  just  so 
many  hours  of  labor  each  day, — year  in  and 
year  out, — which  might  become  monotonous 
and  be  looked  upon  as  drudgery. ' ' 

' '  But  I  should  think, ' '  I  said,  ' '  that  the  short 
hours  you  mention  would  not  be  sufficient  to 
enable  the  people  to  live  and  enjoy  such  pleas- 
ures of  life  as  I  see  them  enjoying.  I  am  sure 
it  would  not  in  my  world,  although  everything 
appears  to  be  the  same  here  as  there." 

"It  is,"  remarked  Creon,  "simply  a  matter 
of  consumption  and  production, — nothing  more. 
All  any  country  has  to  do  is  to  produce  as 
much  as  its  people  consume,  and  keep  a  suffi- 
cient supply  on  hand  for  unforeseen  contingen- 
cies. And  when  it  goes  beyond  that,  it  is  pro- 
ducing that  for  which  it  has  no  use.  With 
your  people,  on  account  of  your  complicated 
and  unreasonable  system, — with  your  laws, 
government,  money,  and  private  ownership  of 
property,  you  have  a  large  percentage  of  peo- 
ple that  does  not  produce  anything,  either  di- 
rectly or  indirectly,  and  that  has  to  be  sup- 
ported by  others;  and  the  most  of  these  non- 
producers  live  better  than  those  that  do  pro- 
duce, and  it  costs  more  for  their  support,  than 
for  the  support  of  the  producers.  Just  look  at 
those  under  your  system  who  are  non-produc- 
ers,— and  not  only  of  no  benefit  to  the  com- 
munity but  are  a  drag  upon  it. 


158  Beyond  the  Horizon 

"First  there  are  your  navies  and  your  stand- 
ing armies,  and  all  those  who  labor  in  con- 
structing your  forts  and  battleships  and  in 
making  munitions, — laboring  to  construct  that 
which  is  not  only  useless  and  expensive  but 
harmful :  things  made  to  destroy  life  and  prop- 
erty and  for  no  other  purpose.  Then  you  have 
those  that  are  connected  with  your  useless 
money  system,  such  as  bankers,  trust  compa- 
nies, and  money  loaners,  and  all  their  vast  army 
of  assistants  and  clerks.  Then,  under  your 
ownership  of  property  plan,  you  have  real  es- 
tate dealers,  brokers,  and  traders,  and  all  those 
thousands  connected  with  that  part  of  your 
system. 

"Next,  you  may  set  down  in  your  useless  col- 
umn saloon-keepers,  tabacconists,  and  all  who 
are  connected  with  those  'industries,'  as  you 
call  them.  Then  come  your  judges  and  lawyers, 
their  clerks  and  stenographers,  court  em- 
ployees, and  all  those  connected  with  your  law 
system ;  many  of  them  hard  working,  conscien- 
tious people,  but  who,  since  they  produce  noth- 
ing, are  a  burden, — useless  and  unnecessary. 

"And  then  I  will  next  mention  your  politi- 
cians and  office  holders ;  those  who  make  your 
laws  and  try  to  govern  and  control  the  people, 
the  majority  of  whom  go  into  office  without  ex- 
perience and  by  giving  more  attention  to  keep- 
ing themselves  in  office  than  in  performing  their 


We  Continue  Our  Journey  159 

duties,  go  out  not  much  better  qualified  for  the 
position  than  when  they  went  in. 

"Then  consider  the  traveling  salesmen,  and 
the  merchants  you  call  middlemen,  and  the 
thousand  and  one  others  who  have  occupations 
that  produce  nothing  for  the  needs,  comfort  or 
even  pleasures  of  any  one  under  your  insane 
and  complicated  system;  not  mentioning  the 
thousands  who  do  not  work  at  all, — mere  idlers, 
either  by  reason  of  their  wealth  or  on  account 
of  downright  laziness.  And  again  there  is  an- 
other class,  and  an  expensive  one;  your  crim- 
inals :  most  of  them  made  so  by  your  social 
conditions  and  manner  of  handling  them.  Think 
of  the  enormous  loss  of  time  and  energy  (the 
expense,  you  might  say)  they  incur,  and  which 
has  to  be  borne  by  your  people. 

"Now,  suppose, — instead  of  having  all  these 
millions  that  I  have  mentioned  living  upon  the 
people  and  doing  nothing,  in  a  material  way, 
toward  their  support,  but  who  are  instead  sup- 
ported by  those  who  do  produce, — that  every 
one  were  engaged  in  an  occupation  that  directly 
returned  something  for  either  the  needs  or  en- 
joyments of  all.  Do  you  not  see  what  an  eco- 
nomic saving  there  would  be? 

"With  us  we  have  done  away  with  all  these 
things,  and  established  ourselves  upon  a  true, 
sensible,  and  solid  economic  basis,  where  the 
efforts  of  every  one  count  for  something.  With 
your  people  everything  is  based  upon  money 


160  Beyond  the  Horizon 

and  ownership  of  property,  and  you  therefrom 
have  built  up  a  cumbersome,  complicated,  and 
burdensome  system, — a  system  of  errors.  With 
you,  for  everything  a  man  does  he  expects  a 
return  in  money.  If  he  does  a  day's  work,  its 
value  is  measured  by  so  many  dollars  and  cents. 
If  he  is  a  farmer  and  raises  a  bushel  of  wheat, 
its  value  in  money  is,  in  most  instances,  fixed 
by  some  combination,  regardless  of  supply  and 
demand, — of  consumption  and  production.  And 
so  it  is  with  other  products  of  the  soil, — the 
bounties  of  the  earth,  meant  to  supply  the  needs 
of  man.  In  many  instances,  I  am  informed,  the 
producer  receives  less  for  his  products  than  do 
those  who  handle  and  deliver  them  to  the  con- 
sumer. 

"Your  people,  I  find,  complain  a  great  deal 
about  the  high  cost  of  living  and  your  politi- 
cians blame  it  upon  one  political  party  or  the 
other,  depending  upon  the  party  to  which  he 
belongs.  But  to  me  it  does  not  appear  that  any 
political  party  can  be  blamed,  as  it  is  all 
brought  about  by  the  things  I  have  mentioned. 
And  with  the  complications  of  your  system 
growing  more  complex,  its  toll  will  increase; 
it  will  ever  become  more  burdensome,  and  the 
cost  of  living,  instead  of  becoming  less,  will  con- 
tinue to  advance,  until  the  burdens  of  the  poor 
and  unfortunate  will  be  more  than  they  can 
bear. 

"Your  people  have  pretty  nearly  reached  the 


We  Continue  Our  Journey  161 

limit,  and  if  wars  do  not  crush  them  all  you 
will  certainly  extricate  yourselves  in  time.  Jus- 
tice and  common  sense  will  surely  prevail.  With 
something  like  seventy  per  cent,  of  your  people 
either  idlers  or  engaged  in  employments  that 
produce  nothing, — useless  and  a  burden, — what 
can  you  expect?  Yes,  the  system  we  have  in 
operation  would  work  in  your  world  as  it  does 
here.  If  your  useless  occupations  were  done 
away  with,  and  each  performed  his  share,  our 
hours  of  labor  would  be  ample  to  furnish  all 
your  people  with  every  comfort  and  pleasure 
necessary  for  the  enjoyment  of  life. 

"Your  system  fosters  the  desire  in  men  to 
take  an  advantage  of  others;  to  get  and  con- 
trol all  they  can,  whether  necessary  for  their 
needs  and  pleasures  or  not.  It  creates  a  desire 
to  possess  and  to  take  away  from  others  that 
which  rightfully  belongs  to  them.  This  you 
must  admit  is  wrong,  and  any  system  that 
brings  about  such  results  cannot  be  right  in 
principle,  and  therefore  should  be  discarded." 

"I  am  satisfied,"  I  said.  "You  have  con- 
vinced me  that  the  system  you  have  here  could 
be  adopted  in  my  world,  and  in  course  of  time, 
as  the  people  become  educated  and  trained,  be 
as  successful  and  bring  about  the  good  results 
that  exist  here.  I  did  not  before  realize  that 
there  were  with  us  so  many  useless  occupations, 
— so  many  people  employed  in  doing  the  things 
that  are  unnecessary.    As  I  understand,  every 


162  Beyond  the  Horizon 

one  is  not  required  to  be  employed  in  produc- 
ing just  the  things  that  are  essential  to  the 
actual  needs  of  the  people.  From  your  point  of 
view  amusements  are  necessary  to  make  life 
worth  living." 

"With  us,"  he  replied,  "we  consider  a  mu- 
sician, an  actor,  an  actress,  an  artist,  writer, 
sculptor,  or  any  one  who  adds  to  the  enjoyment 
of  life  as  essential  as  one  who  produces  the 
necessities." 

"Do  you  hear  those  cheers  and  applause!" 
exclaimed  Mr.  Tweto.  ' '  The  ball  game  must  be 
getting  interesting.  I  should  be  there  and  meet 
my  friends.  I  understand  the  game  is  thought 
much  of  by  your  people  and  that  there  are 
some  players  who  make  it  their  business,  but 
we  have  never  gone  that  far.  Our  young  men 
have  so  much  time  they  can  devote  to  the  game 
that  they  are  able  to  give  us  some  pretty  good 
ball.  Suppose  we  go  over  and  see  what  they 
are  doing.  I  believe  the  village  is  sending  down 
their  best  team  and  hope  to  clean  my  boys  up." 

Upon  reaching  the  ball  ground  we  found  some 
two  hundred  or  more  people  watching  the  game, 
and  they  were  as  enthusiastic  a  lot  of  fans  as 
one  would  ever  wish  to  see. 

"This  game,"  observed  Creon,  as  we  ap- 
proached, "is  played  exactly  as  it  is  played  in 
your  country.  In  fact,  the  first  time  I  visited 
your  world  I  became  so  interested  in  the  game 
that  when  I  came  back  I  introduced  it,  and  it 


We  Continue  Our  Journey  163 

has  since  become  very  popular.  We  do  not  ob- 
ject to  adopting-  anything  that  you  have  that 
will  be  of  benefit  to  us,  and  I  hope  your  people, 
when  you  return  to  your  country  and  proclaim 
what  you  have  seen,  will  use  the  same  good 
judgment." 

' '  I  hope  so, "  I  replied.  But  in  my  mind  there 
arose  the  thought  that  the  influence  of  yellow 
gold  was  so  strong  that  I  could  not  but  enter- 
tain a  feeling  of  misgiving  and  doubt. 

The  next  day  we  made  our  journey  to  the 
lake  in  a  leisurely  manner.  At  noon  we  stopped 
for  lunch  at  a  roadside  inn,  where  we  remained 
for  some  time  enjoying  the  cool  shade  of  the 
trees  on  the  well-kept  lawn  in  front  of  the 
house,  and  the  afternoon  was  half  gone  before 
we  resumed  our  journey.  The  landlord, — a 
hearty,  good-natured  fellow, — and  Mr.  Tweto 
were  apparently  great  friends,  and  after  we 
had  finished  our  lunch  he  insisted  that,  if  we 
did  not  need  to  rest,  our  horses  did.  I  could 
readily  see  that  he  took  great  pride  in  the  place, 
and  well  he  might,  as  everything  about  it  was 
in  perfect  order,  cozy,  and  comfortable. 

Nearly  every  one  we  met  knew  Mr.  Tweto, 
but  whether  acquaintances  or  not,  he  and  Creon 
exchanged  salutations  with  every  one,  young 
and  old.  This  I  learned  was  the  usual  cus- 
tom among  those  people.  I  remarked  upon 
this  to  Creon  in  the  presence  of  Mr.  Tweto, 
who  immediately  exclaimed : 


164  Beyond  the  Horizon 

"You  do  not  mean  to  tell  me  that  in  your 
country,  when  traveling  along  the  road  as  we 
are  doing  now,  you  would  not  notice  or  speak 
to  people  you  meet,  just  because  you  do  not 
know  them?  I  do  not  understand  it.  Do  you 
think  a  man  is  any  better  because  you  happen 
to  know  him;  or  do  you  think  men  and  women 
need  a  recommendation  before  you  can  recog- 
nize them?" 

"The  reason  you  do  not  understand,"  re- 
marked Creon,  "is  because  you  do  not  com- 
prehend what  is  thought  necessary,  in  the  opin- 
ion of  those  people,  for  a  man  to  possess  in 
order  for  him  to  command  recognition.  With 
them  a  man's  standing  is  judged,  to  a  large  ex- 
tent, by  his  wealth,  or  by  the  social  position 
of  his  family." 

"I  should  think,"  observed  Mr.  Tweto,  with 
a  laugh,  "that  a  certificate  from  your  banker 
showing  the  amount  of  your  wealth  would  be 
a  convenient  document  to  carry.  Then,  upon 
meeting  a  stranger,  it  would  only  be  necessary 
to  show  your  certificate  and  by  it  prove  that 
you  are  a  man  worthy  of  recognition." 

"It  does  almost  amount  to  that  in  some  in- 
stances," I  replied.  "But  in  my  world  it  will 
not  do  to  make  friends  with  every  one  you  meet. 
If  you  did,  you  would  be  taken  in  very  often, 
even  by  those  who  look  and  appear  to  be  peo- 
ple of  culture  and  refinement." 

To  me  our  surroundings  were  new,  and  as  we 


We  Continue  Our  Journey  165 

traveled  along  my  questions  were  many.  Thus 
the  afternoon  quickly  passed. 

Just  as  the  sun  was  disappearing,  as  it 
seemed,  into  the  bosom  of  the  lake,  we  reached 
the  top  of  a  hill  overlooking  the  town,  or  almost 
city, — our  destination  for  the  day. 

There  below  us  it  lay  in  all  the  beauty  of  a 
summer  evening,  with  its  buildings  and  homes, 
here  and  there  just  visible  through  the  green 
foliage  of  grand  old  trees;  beyond,  the  broad 
and  expansive  lake,  across  the  mirror-like  sur- 
face of  which  the  setting  sun  reflected  back  a 
pathway  of  purple,  crimson,  and  gold,  that 
rippled,  waved  and  changed,  as  the  many  boats 
plying  back  and  forth  disturbed  its  placid  sur- 
face; in  the  distant  south  the  snow-white  cap 
of  a  solitary  mountain  glittered  in  the  dying 
sunlight,  as  the  gathering  darkness  of  the  com- 
ing night  slowly  crept  up  its  forest-clad  sides. 
A  picture  of  beauty  and  grandeur  was  before 
us ;  a  picture  always  to  be  remembered,  but  im- 
possible to  describe ;  a  picture  in  imagination  to 
be  framed  with  the  faint  murmur  of  distant 
voices  and  the  merry  laughter  of  children, 
mingling  with  strains  of  music  coming  up 
through  the  tree  tops  from  below. 

Silent  and  enchanted,  we  sat  upon  our  horses 
while  the  glittering  cap  of  the  mountain  grad- 
ually faded  and  disappeared  and  the  pathway 
of  purple,  crimson  and  gold  changed,  vanished 
and  was  no  more.    Like  a  cloud  of  war  gather- 


166  Beyond  the  Horizon 

ing  over  a  land  of  peace,  the  darkness  of  night 
was  now  settling  over  land  and  lake. 

"Darkness  has  conquered  the  light,"  re- 
marked Mr.  Tweto.  "The  only  struggles  for 
supremacy  we  have  in  this  world  are  those  be- 
tween darkness  and  light  and  those  of  the  ele- 
ments, but  instead  of  causing  death  and  suffer- 
ing, each  in  its  turn  gracefully  and  beautifully 
gives  way  to  the  other."  Then,  pausing  for  a 
moment,  while  his  eyes  rested  upon  the  lake 
yet  outlined  below,  he  added:  "This  has  been  a 
delightful  day,  but,  as  I  am  to  spend  the  evening 
with  some  friends,  I  must  bid  you  good-night. 
I  understand  you  are  to  remain  in  town  to- 
morrow, and  I  shall  certainly  see  you  during 
the  day.  You  will  have  no  difficulty  in  finding 
the  hotel,  as  this  highway  extends  through  the 
town  to  the  lake,  and  the  hotel  you  will  find  on 
its  shore,  just  back  from  the  street." 

"A  wonderful  man,  and  such  an  agreeable 
companion!"  I  remarked  to  Creon,  as  Mr. 
Tweto  rode  down  a  side  street.  "I  wonder 
that  he  should  be  an  innkeeper  and  farmer." 

"Being  an  artist  of  considerable  talent,"  re- 
plied Creon,  "he  could,  if  he  desired,  so  employ 
that  part  of  his  time  which  belongs  to  his  coun- 
try; as  a  writer  and  naturalist  his  services 
would  be  accepted  in  work  along  those  lines; 
but  by  looking  after  the  inn  and  farm  he  is  free 
to  do  those  things  as  recreation,  and  un- 
doubtedly  does    better    work    and    gets   more 


We  Continue  Our  Journey  167 

pleasure  out  of  them.  The  management  of  the 
farm  gives  him  an  agreeable  outdoor  occupa- 
tion among  the  horses,  cattle  and  in  the  fields ; 
as  a  landlord  he  meets  and  associates  with  his 
guests,  enjoys  their  society,  and  takes  pride  in 
giving  them  the  best  of  entertainment.  He  is 
widely  known,  and  every  one  is  his  friend. 
What  more  can  any  man  desire?  You  will  find 
many  like  him  in  this  world;  men  who  are 
living  wholesome,  useful,  and  enjoyable  lives, 
performing  their  share  and  receiving  like  share 
in  return, — interested  not  only  in  their  sports 
and  pleasures,  but  in  their  work  as  well." 

Our  way  to  the  hotel  led  us  through  the  town, 
and  gave  me  an  opportunity  for  observation. 
The  streets  were  broad,  shaded,  clean,  well 
kept,  and  well  lighted.  The  houses, — as  I  have 
since  observed  in  all  the  cities,  towns,  and 
villages, — were  located  well  back  from  the  street 
and  at  the  same  distance,  with  trees,  shrubbery, 
and  flowers  in  front  and  gardens  and  fruit  trees 
in  the  rear.  There  is  no  stint  of  land  in  that 
world,  every  one  having  the  use  of  some  part 
of  the  earth  to  do  with  as  he  pleases. 

As  we  rode  along,  we  met  many  people  rid- 
ing and  driving,  others  were  sauntering  along 
the  walks,  with  here  and  there  a  youth  and 
maiden,  oblivious  to  all  except  each  other;  chil- 
dren were  playing  upon  the  lawns;  music  and 
merry  laughter  floated  through  the  open  doors 
and  windows  of  the  brilliantly  lighted  houses. 


168  Beyond  the  Horizon 

We  were  passing  down  a  street  lined  with 
homes,  in  which  peace  and  joy  reigned  supreme. 
Of  poverty  and  want  there  was  none  to  mar  the 
enjoyment  of  those  who  had  never  been  touched 
by  the  cold  and  bony  hands  of  these  ghastly 
visitants. 

At  my  request  we  rode  slowly,  that  I  might 
the  more  fully  see  and  enjoy  it  all;  and  yet,  the 
life  that  I  was  so  interested  in  observing  was 
being  enacted  upon  every  street,  within  every 
city,  town,  and  village  of  that  wonderful  land. 

In  about  the  center  of  the  town  the  street  ran 
through  quite  an  extensive  park,  in  which  many 
people  were  strolling  about  listening  to  the 
music  of  a  band,  which,  as  we  rode  past,  was 
playing  a  waltz,  and  upon  a  nearby  platform 
several  couples  were  whirling  and  circling  in 
time  to  that  bewitching  music. 

Beyond  the  park,  in  a  large  square  by  itself, 
stood  the  public  building  of  the  town, — con- 
structed of  marble  and  granite, — spacious  and 
substantial,  with  considerable  architectural 
beauty.  All  the  public  buildings,  Creon  in- 
formed me,  were  constructed  and  under  the 
control  of  the  District  Managers. 

''There  is  one  thing  you  will  find  in  this 
world,"  said  Creon,  "and  that  is  that  every- 
thing we  do,  we  do  well.  Our  buildings  and 
dwellings  are  all  constructed  to  last,  and  the 
same  is  true  of  all  our  manufactured  articles, 
whether  machinery,  furniture,  or  clothing.   We 


We  Continue  Our  Journey  169 

found  long  ago  that  not  to  do  well  that  which 
was  worth  doing  at  all  was  poor  economy. 

"There  are  two  things  we  do  not  have,  and 
those  are  shoddy  clothing  and  a  continual 
changing  in  fashions  of  dress.  Poorly  made 
and  shoddy  clothing  can  never  look  well,  and  in 
the  end  is  not  economical.  In  style  of  dress  we 
have  a  wide  range —all  along  the  same  general 
line— and  one's  taste  can  be  easily  satisfied; 
but  radical  changes  are  never  thought  of.  In 
your  world  I  observed  frequent  changes  in 
styles,  which  is  a  great  waste,  besides  being 
unnecessary. 

"It  seems  to  me  that  your  people  carry  it  to 
the  extent  that  it  becomes  almost  a  disgrace  to 
wear  clothing,  a  hat,  or  even  shoes  that  are  not 
of  the  latest  mode.  It  is  a  great  burden  upon 
you  all  and  the  cause  of  much  worry  and  un- 
happiness  with  those  who  are  not  able  to  keep 
up  with  the  changes.  There  are  many,  even 
among  your  wealthy  people,  who  would  be  glad 
to  throw  off  the  burden,  but  it  has  become  so 
fixed  that  it  seems  impossible.  If  you  will  trace 
the  custom  to  its  source,  you  will  find  that  it  is 
encouraged  and  fostered  by  a  few  sharp  trades- 
people for  the  sole  purpose  of  money  making 
and  for  none  other.  We  believe  that  a  style  of 
dress  that  is  becoming  to  a  person  to-day  will 
be  so  to-morrow,  or  a  month,  or  even  a  year 
later.    But  enough  of  this,  the  afternoon's  ride 


170  Beyond  the  Horizon 

reminds  me  of  the  hotel  dining-room,  and  I  am 
anxious  to  be  there." 

When  we  reached  the  hotel,  the  horses  were 
turned  over  to  an  attendant  and  taken  to  the 
stable  to  which  they  belonged.  They  were  noble 
animals  and  I  had  become  much  attached  to  the 
one  I  had  ridden,  and  I  was  sorry  to  give  him 
up. 

Hallie  had  arrived  at  the  hotel  that  after- 
noon, and  we  soon  found  her  upon  the  veranda 
overlooking  the  lake,  where  many  of  the  guests 
had  assembled  to  enjoy  the  beauties  of  the 
evening  and  listen  to  the  music  of  a  band  in  an 
adjoining  park. 

As  she  came  forward  to  meet  us,  I  could  not 
but  admire  the  unconscious  grace,  the  natural 
poise  and  bearing,  and,  withal,  those  laughing- 
eyes  and  frank  open  manner.  There  was 
nothing  affected  or  assumed,  but  a  confident, 
easy  manner, — a  civility  that  was  charming  and 
engaging. 

"I  hope  you  have  enjoyed  your  ride,"  she 
observed,  as  she  welcomed  me  with  extended 
hand.  "It  has  been  a  delightful  day  for 
riding." 

I  found  that  those  people  were  interested  in 
not  only  their  own  sports  and  pleasures,  but  in 
those  of  others.  They  lived  each  day  for  itself, 
without  any  worry  or  care  for  the  morrow.  To- 
day, to-morrow,  and  the  days  to  follow  they 
expected  to  perform  their  part  and  receive  their 


We  Continue  Our  Journey  171 

share  in  all  things,  including  those  that  make  up 
the  pleasures  of  life ;  and  they  were  solicitous 
that  all  others  should  enjoy  life  equally  with 
themselves. 

' '  I  hope  you  have  formed  a  favorable  impres- 
sion of  us,"  she  said,  as  we  took  some  seats  by 
ourselves  in  a  corner  of  the  veranda. 

"How  did  you  know  that  I  came  from  'The 
Planet  of  Gold,'  as  I  find  your  people  frequently 
term  my  world?"  I  impolitely  inquired,  instead 
of  answering  her  question. 

"Why,  Father  told  me,  of  course,"  she  re- 
plied. "He  informed  me  before  he  went  away 
that  he  expected  to  bring  some  one  with  him 
from  your  world  when  he  returned,  and  natur- 
ally I  have  been  a  little  curious.  Just  as  you, 
no  doubt,  have  been  regarding  us,"  she  added 
after  a  slight  pause. 

"Are  you  sure  that  you  did  not  determine 
that  fact  from  my  looks  and  appearance?"  I 
inquired  with  some  concern. 

"Why,  certainly  not,"  she  answered  in  a 
manner  that  convinced  me  of  her  sincerity. 

It  had  seemed  to  me  at  times  that  it  must  be 
apparent  to  every  one  that  I  was  a  stranger 
to  that  planet,  and  the  feeling  had  given  me 
considerable  anxiety.  Her  answer  and  her  con- 
vincing manner  in  doing  so  immediately  put  me 
at  ease  upon  that  perplexing  question,  and  the 
feeling  rarely  ever  troubled  me  thereafter. 

Creon  spent  the  greater  part  of  the  evening 


172  Beyond  the  Horizon 

with  some  friends,  leaving  me  to  be  entertained 
by  bis  daughter,  and  I  can  now  recall  that 
evening  as  one  of  the  most  enjoyable  that  I 
spent  during  my  sojourn  among  those  delight- 
ful people.  Although  since  that  time  it  has  been 
my  privilege  to  frequently  enjoy  her  society  and 
companionship,  nevertheless  her  charming  and 
fascinating  manner,  her  vivacity  and  intellec- 
tuality produced  an  impression  upon  my 
memory  that  first  evening  we  were  alone  to- 
gether that  can  never  be  effaced. 

The  portrait  upon  the  wall  of  our  living  com- 
partment in  the  car  had  given  me  the  desire  to 
see  her,  to  form  her  acquaintance,  and  the  meet- 
ing had  produced  the  hope  that  the  acquaintance 
would  develop  into — at  least  friendship. 

As  a  being  from  another  world  I  could  not, — 
I  dare  not, — hope  for  more  than  a  friend  and 
mentor  during  the  time  I  remained  upon  that 
planet  and  associated  as  an  equal  with  its 
people. 


CHAPTER  IX 

AN  EXECUTION  SALE 

The  city  at  the  head  of  the  lake  was  the  first 
of  any  size  in  that  world  I  had  visited,  and  I 
was  much  interested  in  seeing  all  there  was  to 
be  seen  and  in  acquiring  as  much  information 
as  possible.  Therefore,  the  following  morning 
Creon  procured  a  pair  of  horses  from  the 
stable  and  we  spent  the  forenoon  in  driving 
about  the  town.  I  had  hoped  that  Hallie  would 
join  us,  but  she  asked  to  be  excused  as  she  had 
an  engagement  to  spend  the  day  with  some 
friends. 

I  was  informed  by  Creon  that  this  town  was 
a  manufacturing  center  of  considerable  impor- 
tance, containing  about  twenty-five  thousand  in- 
habitants, although  it  had  the  appearance  of 
being  much  larger.  All  the  dwellings  were  sur- 
rounded by  extensive  grounds,  and  there  were 
no  tenement  nor  apartment  houses,  and  I  later 
ascertained  that  there  were  none  in  that  coun- 
try. Another  reason  for  its  appearing  much 
larger  than  a  city  of  the  same  population  in  my 
world  was  its  numerous  and  extensive  parks, 
which  occupied  considerable  space  within  the 
town  limits. 

173 


174  Beyond  the  Horizon 

There  was  no  business  center  and  no  part  of 
the  town  was  given  over  to  wretchedness, 
poverty,  and  squalor.  Altogether  it  had  the 
appearance  of  a  high-class  suburb  of  a  large 
city.  It  was  a  city  of  homes.  That  portion  in 
which  the  factories  were  located  had  the  same 
neat,  clean,  and  attractive  appearance  as  other 
parts  of  the  town,  for  all  such  works  were  sur- 
rounded by  well  shaded  lawns,  in  which  shrub- 
bery and  flowers  were  growing  in  profusion. 

As  I  observed  the  broad,  clean,  well-kept, 
shaded  streets  of  the  town;  its  comfortable, 
attractive  homes  and  beautiful  lawns ;  the  happy 
children,  full  of  life  and  health, — while  every- 
where were  peace,  contentment,  and  prosperity, 
— I  could  not  but  compare  it  all  with  the  average 
city  in  my  world.  A  city  in  which  there  are 
a  few  streets  that  are  wide,  well-kept  and  beau- 
tiful, upon  which  dwell  in  palatial  homes  and 
surrounded  by  spacious  grounds  those  that  are 
possessed  of  wealth, — those  favored  few  who 
by  chance  have  received  the  smiles  of  Mammon 
and  are  enjoying  the  favors  of  that  much-wor- 
shipped deity;  a  few  other  streets,  upon  which 
dwell  in  comfortable  homes  those  that  are  pos- 
sessed of  enough  wealth  to  enable  them  to  live 
well  and  rear  their  children  in  comfort, — some 
living  in  ease,  and  others  bowed  down  with  the 
burden  of  maintaining  the  social  position  to 
which  they  are  habituated. 

Then  there  are  streets  where  poverty  and 


An  Execution  Sale  175 

want  abide ;  where  the  wretched,  miserable,  and 
poor  exist,  linger,  and  die ;  where  the  child  and 
mother  suffer  for  want  of  food  and  clothing; 
where  the  struggle  is  not  for  gold  but  for  an 
existence;  to  live  a  life  without  hope,  without 
pleasure,  without  friends,  without  anything  to 
make  life  worth  living ;  where  the  child  toils  for 
bread  that  life  may  be  sustained;  where  crime, 
poverty,  and  wretchedness  are  ever  present; 
where  grog-shops  and  pawn-shops  flourish,  and 
all  else  is  dead  and  in  decay.  Streets  that  foster 
disease  and  crime,  are  a  menace  to  the  health 
and  welfare  of  the  community,  and  should  never 
exist  in  any  truly  civilized  country. 

A  city  with  a  business  district  where  the 
streets  are  hot  and  sweltering  in  summer,  and 
cold  and  damp  in  winter,  streets  lined  upon 
either  side  with  piles  of  brick  and  stone,  devoid 
of  beauty,  and  crowded  with  worried,  careworn 
humanity  by  day,  and  silent  and  deserted  by 
night;  a  place  that  tries  men's  souls  and  makes 
them  old  in  looks,  while  yet  young  in  years; 
where  the  struggle  for  gold  is  constant  by  day, 
and  where  men  stake  their  health  and  even  life 
itself  in  their  mad  effort  to  acquire  and  re- 
tain it. 

For  gold,  men  there  work,  conspire,  cheat, 
lie,  and  deceive,  some  for  the  mere  pleasure  of 
possessing  it,  that  they  may  count,  handle,  and 
gloat  over  it;  some  for  the  luxury  that  it  will 
provide,  because  by  means  of  it  they  may  have 


176  Beyond  the  Horizon 

pleasures  that  others  cannot  enjoy;  some  for 
the  power  that  by  it  they  may  wield  over  their 
follow-men  and  others  (the  great  majority) 
that  with  it  they  may  procure  the  bare  necessi- 
ties of  life,  that  they  may  live  and  exist  from 
day  to  day,  and  by  so  doing  provide  an  existence 
for  their  families  also. 

As  the  dwellings  in  the  city  on  the  lake  were 
not  built  and  owned  by  those  that  occupy  them, 
I  had  expected  they  would  all  be  of  about  the 
same  size  and  style  of  structure;  but,  although 
there  were  none  of  those  palatial  residences  that 
are  owned  by  the  very  rich  in  my  world,  they 
showed  a  great  diversity  in  size,  style,  and 
architectural  features,  ranging  from  the  large 
colonial  mansion  to  the  bungalow  and  cottage. 
Some  of  the  grounds  were  more  extensive  than 
the  average,  but  usually  they  were  all  of  about 
the  same  size.  While  the  dwellings  were  all 
neat  and  in  good  condition,  yet  it  occurred  to 
me  that  their  difference  in  size  and  style  might 
cause  discord  and  contention,  the  occupants  of 
some  being  able  to  claim  that  they  were  not  so 
well  provided  for  as  those  of  others,  and  I 
expressed  this  thought  to  Creon. 

"I  know,"  he  replied,  "that  with  your  people 
a  man's  standing  in  the  community  is,  to  some 
extent,  governed  by  the  size  and  cost  of  the 
house  in  which  he  resides,  and  on  that  account 
a  husband  and  wife  without  children  often 
burden  themselves  by  maintaining  a  home  much 


An  Execution  Hale  111 

larger  than  they  need,  incurring  thus  a  useless 
expense;  while  others  with  a  large  family,  not 
being  able  to  own  such  pretentious  residences, 
live  in  homes  much  too  small  for  their  needs 
and  comfort. 

"With  us  that  is  all  done  away  with.  To 
begin  with,  a  man's  standing  in  the  community 
in  which  he  resides  does  not  depend  upon  the 
size  and  architectural  design  of  the  house  in 
which  he  lives.  Here  large  families  live  in  the 
larger  houses,  and  small  families  in  the  smaller 
ones.  Frequently  one  of  the  children  after 
marriage  continues  to  live  with  his  or  her 
parents,  and  while  there  is  no  ownership  of  the 
home, — in  your  sense  of  ownership,— it  is  not 
infrequent  that  the  home  is  occupied  by  the 
same  family  from  generation  to  generation.  In 
fact,  my  present  home  was  built  for  my  great- 
grandfather's father.  I  know  of  some  that,  I 
am  informed,  have  been  occupied  by  the  same 
family,  father  and  son,  for  eight  and  nine 
generations.  I  believe  it  is  more  usual  for  the 
old  home  to  continue  in  the  family  here  than  it 
is  in  your  world,  especially  the  country  homes. 

"With  us  the  home  is  more  firmly  estab- 
lished,— more  stable, — than  it  is  with  your  peo- 
ple. Here  there  are  no  laws,  mortgages,  taxes, 
or  lawsuits  through  which  the  family  can  be  dis- 
possessed of  their  home;  through  which  the 
aged  couple,  worn,  worried,  and  sad,  dazed  in 
mind  and  broken  in  heart,  are  made  to  leave  the 


178  Beyond  the  Horizon 

home  of  their  youth,  where  they  had  reared 
their  children  and  in  which  they  had  always 
hoped  to  spend  their  declining  years  together 
in  comfort  and  in  peace;  made  to  leave  their 
home  because  they  are  unable  to  pay  to  some 
cold,  hard,  grasping  money-loaner  a  few  of  your 
pieces  of  gold;  because  that  which  you  call  in- 
terest had  been  their  undoing;  because  your 
laws  as  made  by  man  are  enforced  in  the  name 
of  justice." 

After  pausing  for  a  few  moments,  Creon  con- 
tinued : 

"I  shall  never  forget  an  execution  sale, — or 
by  whatever  law  term  you  call  it, — that  I  once 
attended  in  your  world,  and  do  not  have  any 
desire  to  ever  attend  another.  By  this  sale  one 
of  your  money-loaners  was  enforcing  the  colk 
tion  of  a  mortgage  which  he  held  on  the  farm 
and  personal  property  of  an  aged  couple. 

"The  place  sold  was  one  of  those  delightful 
New  England  homesteads,  so  often  seen  in  that 
part  of  your  country,  and  the  sale  included  the 
stock,  farm  machinery,  and  even  the  old  sub- 
stantial furniture  that  evidently  had  been 
almost  a  part  of  the  family  for  more  than  one 
generation.  It  was  a  small  farm  located  in  a 
beautiful  country  near  a  village,  and  I  under- 
stood that  the  farm  had  been  reclaimed  from 
the  forests  and  the  buildings  constructed  by  the 
grandfather  of  the  old  gentleman  who  was  being 
sold  out  of  his  home  and  all  he  possessed. 


An  Execution  Sale  179 

' '  The  buildings  were  located  on  the  crest  of  a 
small  hill,  well  back  from  the  highway,  with 
several  large,  graceful  elms  in  front,  and  an 
orchard  forming  a  background  in  the  rear.  The 
white  house,  substantial  barns,  and  outbuild- 
ings, surrounded  with  the  green  of  the  trees, 
formed  a  picture  of  an  ideal  farm  home. 

"The  sale  took  place  under  the  trees  in  the 
front  yard,  and  the  farm  and  all  the  personal 
property  were  sold.  The  farm  was  bid  in  by  a 
large,  red-faced,  pompous  man,  who,  I  learned, 
was  a  money-loaner  in  the  near-by  village. 
This  man  had  with  him  papers  and  decrees 
made  by  the  court,  under  which  he  proceeded 
to  take  everything  the  old  couple  had.  The 
sale,  as  I  understood,  was  made  by  some  officer 
of  the  court,  acting  as  auctioneer  and  as  most 
of  the  articles  were  sold  separately,  it  occu- 
pied the  greater  part  of  the  day.  The  farm 
was  sold  first  and  after  that  the  personal 
property ;  the  furniture  being  brought  out  from 
the  house  and  auctioned  off,  with  many  jests 
and  comments  made  by  the  auctioneer,  evi- 
dently for  the  purpose  of  holding  the  crowd 
and  inducing  bids. 

"But  the  old  couple,  feeble  and  careworn, 
attracted  my  attention  and  excited  my  sym- 
pathy. During  most  of  the  time  the  sale  was 
going  on  they  stood  by  themselves,  back  from 
the  crowd,  each  clasping  one  of  the  trembling 
hands  of  the  other,  sad,  bewildered  and  forlorn. 


180  Beyond  the  Horizon 

While  I  stood  near,  an  old,  intelligent-looking, 
gentle  family  mare  was  led  from  the  stable  and 
put  up  for  sale. 

"  'Here,'  cried  the  auctioneer,  'is  Pegasus. 
Who  wants  to  buy  a  horse  that  can  walk,  trot 
and  canter  all  at  the  same  time?  How  much 
am  I  offered  for  the  thoroughbred?'  Soon  the 
animal  was  sold  to  a  rough-looking  fellow,  who 
sent  her  back  to  the  stable  with  a  kick  in  the 
side  with  his  heavy  boot. 

"  *0  mother!'  gasped  the  old  man  in  a 
trembling  voice.  'They  have  sold  Dolly  to 
the  village  drayman.  Poor  Dolly!  Did  you 
see  him  kick  Dolly?  I  must  go  and  see  how 
badly  he  hurt  her.  In  all  the  time  since  I  raised 
her  from  a  colt,  she  never  received  a  blow  like 
that.  Don't  you  think,  Mother,  that  if  I  asked 
them  for  Dolly,  they  would  let  us  have  her?' 

"But  the  wife  did  not  seem  to  hear,  so  in- 
tently was  she  watching  the  auctioneer  and  lis- 
tening to  what  he  was  saying.  Soon,  turning 
her  face  up  to  her  husband's  and  with  eyes 
filled  with  tears,  I  could  just  hear  her  say,  in  a 
voice  so  soft  and  low:  'Do  you  see  what  they 
are  doing,  Father?  They  are  selling  baby's — 
our  little  Bobby's — cradle,  and  his  little  pillow 
and  blanket  and  little  shoes  are  in  there.  You 
know,  I  have  always  kept  them  just  as  they 
were  the  last  time  he  lay  there  just  before  he 
was  taken  from  us.  Oh,  dear!  I  did  not  think 
they  could  do  that,' 


An  Execution  Sale  181 

"And  she  laid  her  head  upon  the  old  man's 
shoulder,  and  he  gently  stroked  her  gray  hairs 
with  his  trembling  hand,  while  the  auctioneer 
was  shouting  in  a  voice  that  seemed  to  pierce 
my  very  soul:  'Here  is  a  chance  for  some 
young  couple  to  get  a  cradle,  all  made  up  ready 
for  the  little  one  and  a  pair  of  shoes  to  go  with 
it.  How  much  am  I  offered?  Going,  going, 
gone  for  fifty  cents  to  the  young  man  with  the 
red  face  and  a  necktie  to  match.' 

"The  shouts  of  laughter  that  followed  this 
sally  brought  the  old  couple  erect.  But  in- 
stead of  further  watching  the  sale,  their  gaze 
wandered  across  the  fields  that  had  been  theirs, 
but  now  had  gone  from  them  into  the  hands  of 
the  money-loaner. 

"For  fully  five  minutes  they  remained  silent 
in  thought,  with  hands  still  clasped,  then,  turn- 
ing to  his  wife,  the  old  man,  in  a  voice  'which 
told  of  the  anguish  he  was  suffering,'  said: 
'  Mother,  if  we  had  kept  our  Johnny,  our  eldest 
born,  with  us ;  if  he  had  not  gone  to  the  war ;  if 
he  were  here,  we  would  not  now  be  without  a 
home.  He  was  a  good  boy  and  would  be  a  com- 
fort to  us  in  our  old  age.  Those  fields  would  be 
his  and  he  would  care  for  us,  but  now  we  are 
penniless,  old,  and  alone.' 

"  'But,  Father,'  replied  the  old  lady,  'our 
boy  laid  down  his  life  for  his  country.  Our 
sacrifice  has  been  great,  but  the  calls  of  our 


182  Beyond  the  Horizon 

country  must  be  obeyed,  and  we  must  not  now 
complain. ' 

''As  with  faltering  steps  they  left  the  place 
where  their  household  goods  were  being  turned 
over  to  others,  accompanied  with  jests  and 
laughter,  and  wandered  down  through  the  orch- 
ard together  to  be  alone  in  their  grief,  I  thought 
of  the  desolation  wrought  by  war;  of  the  grief 
and  suffering,  the  misery  and  anguish  that  it 
causes — even  years  after  the  war  is  over,  and 
the  graves  of  the  fallen  are  almost  forgotten. 

"It  has  always  given  me  much  satisfaction  to 
know  that  by  disposing  of  a  few  stones  from  my 
supply  I  was  able  within  a  few  days  to  restore 
to  the  old  couple  their  farm  and  personal  prop- 
erty, together  with  Dolly,  and  the  cradle,  pil- 
low, blanket,  and  little  shoes;  but  Johnny,  the 
first  born,  who  should  have  been  their  comfort 
and  support,  still  sleeps  in  an  unmarked 
soldier's  grave,  forgotten  by  all  save  by  the  sad 
and  lonely  couple,  who  are  patiently  waiting  for 
the  end  to  come,  hoping,  praying,  and  believing 
that  then  they  will  be  united  with  Johnny,  who 
was  a  good  boy,  and  baby  Bobby,  who  wore 
the  little  shoes. 

' '  The  government  had  taken  their  first  born, 
and  the  law  their  property ;  and,  had  it  not  been 
for  a  man  from  another  world,  they  would  not 
have  had  a  place  to  lay  their  heads." 


CHAPTER  X 

AN    INDUSTRIAL  SYSTEM 

In  driving  about  the  town,  I  observed  many 
teams  loaded  with  groceries,  vegetables  and 
provisions,  very  similar  to  those  that  deliver 
groceries  in  my  country;  and  concluding  that 
they  were  engaged  in  the  work  of  supplying  the 
people  with  their  daily  food,  I  requested  Creon 
to  explain  the  method  of  food  distribution. 

"That,"  he  said,  "is  very  simple.  In  small 
villages,  like  the  one  we  were  in  the  other  day, 
it  is  done  through  the  one  store,  as  you  saw; 
but  in  the  larger  towns  and  cities  the  system 
is  different.  In  those  places  there  are  located 
warehouses  in  which  are  stored  the  provisions 
that  can  be  delivered  to  the  consumer  in  bulk, — 
such  as  flour,  sugar,  and  potatoes, — while  vege- 
tables, fruit,  and  perishable  products  are  gath- 
ered from  the  producer  and  delivered  daily  to 
the  consumer,  and  are  not  handled  and  re- 
handled.  Thus  there  is  a  great  saving  in  time 
and  labor,  compared  with  your  system,  and  also 
a  great  saving  in  the  product, — and  its  quality 
is  much  better. 

"Your  people  do  not  seem  to  realize  the  com- 

183 


184  Beyond  the  Horizon 

plicated  and  expensive  system  of  handling  food 
products  that  has  been  built  up  in  your  country. 
I  find  that  it  is  usual  for  the  farmer  to  send  his 
product  to  what  you  call  a  commission  man, 
who  in  turn  sells  it  to  the  wholesaler  and  he  to 
the  retailer,  and  frequently  it  passes  through 
the  hands  of  a  middleman  or  broker.  Each  of 
these  add  their  cost  of  handling,  rent,  and  other 
expenses  of  carrying  on  their  business  and  a 
good  profit  for  themselves.  Is  there  any  wonder 
that  the  consumer  is  always  complaining  of  the 
high  prices  which  he  has  to  pay,  and  the  pro- 
ducer of  the  low  prices  at  which  he  has  to  sell  1 
That  system  of  yours  imposes  a  heavy  burden 
upon  the  poor  and  is  one  of  the  many  reasons 
for  your  high  cost  of  living. 

''Another  unreasonable  method  you  have, — 
and  an  expensive  one  for  the  consumer, — is  that 
of  transporting  your  raw  materials  hundreds 
and  even  thousands  of  miles  from  where  they 
are  produced,  and  after  they  are  converted  into 
manufactured  products,  transport  that,  or  at 
least  a  considerable  portion  of  it,  back  again. 

''Your  people,  I  find,  pride  themselves  upon 
their  business  acumen,  but  it  seems  to  me  that 
if  they  would  stop  in  their  mad  rush  for  gain 
and  do  a  little  common-sense  reasoning,  they 
would  realize  that  they  are  simply  working 
against  each  other  and  making  life  as  hard  and 
complicated  as  possible. 

"Your  way  of  doing  business,  as  you  call  it, 


An  Industrial  System  185 

enables  a  portion  of  the  people  to  live  and  pros- 
per, while  engaged  in  a  worse  than  useless  occu- 
pation, and  also  gives  the  railroads  an  oppor- 
tunity of  adding  a  carrying  charge  on  your 
products.  And  this  charge,  of  course,  is  borne 
by  the  producer  and  consumer. 

"I  am  not  blaming  the  merchant  or  those 
connected  with  the  railroads.  Your  whole 
people  are  to  blame  for  tolerating  and  main- 
taining a  system  under  which  each  individual 
acts  independently,  selfishly,  and  alone. 

"Our  products  are  distributed  to  the  con- 
sumer in  as  direct  a  manner  as  possible,  with- 
out unnecessary  labor  and  without  profit  to  any 
one.  It  is  not  a  grab-as-much-as-you-can 
system,  but  is  simple  and  is  looked  after  by 
those  who  have  had  experience  and  understand 
it." 

Mr.  Tweto,  with  his  friend,  Mr.  Hinton,  who 
had  charge  of  one  of  the  factories,  joined  us  at 
lunch.  With  my  consent,  Mr.  Hinton  was  in- 
formed that  I  was  from  another  world,  and  he 
at  once  became  much  interested.  As  he  had 
read  Creon's  book,  "The  Planet  of  Gold,"  he 
was  eager  to  give  me  any  information  he  could, 
and  after  lunch  proposed  that  he  show  us  over 
the  factory  he  had  charge  of. 

The  factory  that  we  inspected  was  a  woolen 
mill,  in  which  cloth  for  men's  clothing  was 
manufactured.  It  was  a  long,  narrow,  two- 
story  building,   constructed   of   concrete,   well 


186  Beyond  the  Horizon 

lighted  and  well  aired.  In  fact,  the  sides  were 
almost  entirely  made  of  glass,  and  Mr.  Hinton 
informed  me  that  by  a  system  of  ventilation  the 
air  was  continually  changing  throughout  the 
building.  The  entire  motive  power  was  elec- 
tricity, and  consequently  there  was  perfect  free- 
dom from  smoke  and  cinders. 

The  machinery  was  all  of  the  best,  and  I 
noticed  that  every  safeguard  possible  was  used 
for  the  protection  of  those  that  operated  the 
machinery  and  worked  about  the  factory.  There 
were  no  children  employed,  nor  any  old 
and  infirm.  The  operatives  were,  for  the 
greater  number,  men,  although  some  of  the 
work  was  performed  by  women.  But  none, 
whether  man  or  woman,  was  the  dejected, 
emaciated,  pale,  and  sickly-looking  employee 
that  is  so  often  seen  in  the  mills  and  factories 
in  my  world. 

They  all  had  good,  fresh  air  to  breathe, 
wholesome  food  to  eat, — and  plenty  of  it, — short 
hours  of  labor,  good,  comfortable  homes  to  live 
in,  and  ample  time  in  which  to  pursue  their 
pleasures.  There  were  never  any  cuts  in  wages 
nor  either  strikes  or  lay-offs. 

Mr.  Hinton  informed  me  that  four  hours  con- 
st! luted  a  day's  work  and  that  the  mill  was 
operated  eight  hours  a  day, — the  first  shift  go- 
ing to  work  at  eight  in  the  morning  and  work- 
ing until  twelve,  and  the  other  shift  going  to 
work  at  twelve  and  working  until  four. 


An  Industrial  System  187 

"You  will  find,"  said  Mr.  Hinton,  "that  the 
goods  we  manufacture  are  all  up  to  standard. 
We  work  for  quality  and  not  for  quantity. 
When  a  piece  of  cloth  is  completely  finished,  it 
is  inspected  before  being  packed  for  shipment 
and  nothing  is  shipped  unless  it  is  in  every  way 
perfect.  Of  course  we  have  different  grades, 
summer  goods  and  winter  goods,  but  each  piece 
must  be  up  to  grade.  We  fill  orders  from  the 
nearest  warehouses  and  thus  do  not  transport 
goods  for  any  considerable  distance.  Usually 
the  orders  are  placed  before  the  goods  are  made 
up,  and  then  we  make  them  according  to  the 
specifications  contained  in  the  orders." 

"I  observe,"  I  said,  "that  you  take  every 
precaution  to  prevent  injury  to  those  who  work 
in  the  factory,  but  no  doubt  there  are  accidents 
occasionally  and  people  are  injured." 

"Yes,"  he  replied,  "where  there  are  over 
five  hundred  workers  employed  around  ma- 
chinery in  rapid  motion,  accidents  are  liable  to 
occur.  Last  year  one  of  our  workmen  had  one 
of  his  fingers  so  badly  injured  that  it  had  to  be 
amputated,  and  three  years  ago  another  work- 
man injured  one  of  his  feet  and  was  unable  to 
work  for  over  a  month.  But  during  the  twelve 
years  I  have  been  in  charge  there  has  not  been 
either  a  death  or  the  loss  of  a  limb  by  accident 
in  this  factory.  We  not  only  have  all  parts  of 
the  machinery  guarded  wherever  possible,  but 
we  never  allow  those  who  operate  the  machines 


188  Beyond  the  Horizon 

to  make  any  repairs  when  machines  get  out  of 
order.  We  have  experts  to  do  that,  and  no  re- 
pairs, however  trifling,  are  attempted  to  be 
made  when  the  machinery  is  in  motion.  We 
hold  life  and  limb  too  dear  to  take  any  chances. 
Another  reason  why  we  have  so  few  accidents 
is  because  our  workers  are  never  tired  and  care- 
worn and  are  therefore  always  attentive  to  their 
work." 

"And  another  reason,"  observed  Creon,  who 
had  been  following  our  conversation,  "is  that 
with  us  the  workers  are  never  either  exhila- 
rated or  depressed  by  drink  and  in  many  in- 
stances unable  to  use  their  faculties  and 
properly  care  for  themselves. 

"I  have  spent  considerable  time  in  investigat- 
ing the  conditions  under  which  the  employees 
in  the  mills  and  factories  in  your  world  labor, 
and  the  number  who  are  killed  and  injured  every 
year  is  appalling.  Among  the  army  of  workers 
in  your  country  many  are  killed  and  maimed 
with  almost  as  little  concern  as  in  an  army 
engaged  in  actual  warfare.  And  the  number  of 
deaths  and  casualties  are  even  greater  than  they 
are  in  some  of  your  minor  wars. 

"Many  of  the  deaths  and  injuries  are  brought 
about  by  the  carelessness  of  the  employees. 
Sometimes  it  is  the  carelessness  of  the  one 
killed  or  injured,  at  other  times  that  of  a  fellow 
workman ;  but  many  more  result  from  the  neg- 


An  Industrial  System  189 

lect  of  the  employer  to  provide  suitable  protec- 
tion and  appliances  for  the  employed. 

"Then,  the  way  in  which  the  family  of  the 
workman  who  is  killed,  or  of  the  workman  who 
is  injured  and  crippled  for  life,  is  left  to  surfer 
and  thereafter  sustain  life  as  best  it  can  is  cruel 
and  inhuman.  If  the  employer,— usually  what 
you  call  'a  corporation,' — is  to  blame  for  the 
death  of  the  workman,  a  settlement  for  an  in- 
adequate amount  is  made  with  the  widow  and 
children,  or  they  are  left  to  the  mercy  of  the 
courts  and  lawyers.  In  many  instances  they 
are  harassed  and  worried  for  years  before  their 
case, — after  going  from  court  to  court, — is 
finally  decided,  and  then  they  discover  that  the 
greater  part  of  the  amount  awarded  has  been 
eaten  up  by  court  expenses  and  attorney's  fees. 

"In  some  of  your  states,  I  find,  laws  have 
be:  11  r?iacted  through  which,  by  the  employer 
making  a  comparatively  small  payment  in  the 
form  of  an  assessment  to  the  state,  the  in- 
jured employee, — or,  in  the  event  of  death,  his 
family, — is  paid  a  fixed  amount.  But  upon  in- 
vestigating those  laws,  I  have  concluded  that, 
while  they  are  supposedly  enacted  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  laborer,  they  are  really  only  beneficial 
to  the  employer. 

' '  In  one  of  your  states  I  found,  under  such  a 
law,  that  the  greatest  amount  that  can  be  paid 
to  a  workman  for  the  loss  of  both  legs  or  both 
arms,  total  loss  of  eyesight,  or  any  other  injury 


190  Beyond  the  Horizon 

that  may  totally  incapacitate  him  from  perform- 
ing any  work,  is  twenty  dollars  per  month,  if 
the  workman  is  unmarried.  If  the  workman  is 
married  and  has  no  children  under  the  age  of 
sixteen  years,  the  largest  amount  that  can  be 
paid  is  twenty-five  dollars  per  month,  but  if 
there  are  children  under  the  age  of  sixteen 
years,  no  matter  how  many,  the  payment  may 
be  increased  to  thirty-five  dollars  per  month. 

"But  no  matter  how  great  the  injury  or  how 
large  the  family,  the  disabled  workman  and  his 
family  must  in  some  way  live,  meet  hospital 
charges,  and  pay  physicians'  fees  on  thirty-five 
dollars  a  month.  The  same  law  provides  that 
where  death  results  to  a  workman  from  injury, 
the  expenses  of  his  burial  shall  be  paid, — these 
expenses  not  to  exceed  seventy-five  dollars, — 
and  if  he  leaves  a  widow  and  children,  the 
widow,  while  she  remains  such,  shall  receive  the 
sum  of  twenty  dollars  per  month  and  each  chilcT 
five  dollars  per  month  until  it  reaches  the  age  of 
sixteen  years. 

"In  one  instance  that  came  to  my  attention, 
a  workman  under  this  law  was  paid  the  sum  of 
seventy-five  dollars  as  full  compensation  for 
the  loss  of  the  eyesight  of  one  eye,  although  on 
account  of  his  injury  he  was  unable  to  perform 
any  labor  for  several  months  and  the  charges 
of  his  physician  were  considerably  more  than 
the  amount  he  received. 

i  *  Under  the  law  of  the  state  of  which  I  speak, 


An  Industrial  System  191 

the  state  is  entitled  to  retain  out  of  the  fund 
collected  from  the  employers  of  labor  the  sum 
of  sixty  thousand  dollars  a  year  for  admin- 
istering the  law  and  disbursing  the  funds  to  the 
injured  workman,  or  to  his  family,  in  the  event 
of  death  of  a  workman  from  his  injuries. 

"The  workman  who  is  injured  by  reason  of 
his  own  negligence  receives  the  same  amount  as 
the  workman  who  is  injured  by  the  negligence 
of  his  employer.  The  question  of  who  is  re- 
sponsible for  the  injury  or  death  of  a  laborer 
is  not  looked  into.  The  right  or  wrong  of  it  is 
not  thought  of.  The  law  is  followed,  and  justice 
to  the  workman,  or  to  his  family,  is  not  deemed 
worthy  of  consideration, — is  of  no  importance. 
The  employer  has  paid  his  assessment;  the 
state  has  carried  out  its  part  by  making  the 
payments,  and  has  received  its  portion  as  the 
law  directs.  But  the  crippled  workman;  the 
child  and  mother  with  no  one  to  earn  their 
bread,  or  to  provide  for  the  injured  one, — it  is 
for  them  to  suffer;  it  is  for  them  to  bear  the 
burden.  Justice  in  the  name  of  the  law  has 
been  done ;  why  complain  I  I  was  informed  that 
the  political  party  and  administration  that 
caused  this  law  to  be  enacted  claimed  that  they 
were  entitled  to  much  credit  and  consideration 
for  their  efforts  in  looking  after  the  interests 
of  injured  workmen  and  their  widows  and 
orphans. ' ' 

Near  the  factory  was  the  building  for  baths 


192  Beyond  the  Horizon 

and  for  the  changing  of  clothing,  similar  to  the 
one  I  had  seen  in  the  village  where  the  power 
plant  was  being  constructed.  And  I  was  in- 
formed by  Mr.  Hinton  that  those  were  main- 
tained at  all  factories,  great  and  small,  and 
were  a  part  of  the  system.  In  going  through 
the  building,  I  found  every  part  clean  and  in 
perfect  order,  and  all  the  workmen  attending 
strictly  to  the  work  they  were  engaged  in  doing. 

As  I  observed  the  men  and  women  at  their 
work,  performing  their  share  in  this  wonderful 
system,  with  fewer  hours  of  labor  and  under 
more  favorable  conditions  than  were  ever 
known  in  my  world,  I  thought  of  the  workmen 
in  factories  of  this  kind  as  I  had  seen  them  in 
the  past :  of  the  factories  dark  and  poorly  venti- 
lated, greasy,  dirty,  and  foul,  in  which  the  child 
and  mother  were  toiling  together  for  the 
smallest  wage,  in  order  that  the  monthly  rent 
might  be  paid  and  the  home  maintained.  A 
home  bare  and  uninviting, — hot  and  suffocating 
in  summer  and  cold  in  winter;  a  home  located 
in  a  foul  and  narrow  street  surrounded  by 
dilapidated  buildings,  devoid  of  trees,  grass  or 
flowers;  a  home  in  which  they  who  call  it 
"home"  are  too  weary  from  excessive  toil  to 
even  notice  its  discomforts. 

Then  I  thought  of  the  homes  of  these  work- 
men, as  I  had  observed  them  in  driving  about 
the  town;  homes  comfortable   and  attractive, 


An  Industrial  System  193 

surrounded  by  green  lawns,  shaded  by  beautiful 
trees,  and  situated  on  wide,  shady  streets. 

The  latter,  the  homes  of  workers  under  a 
system  where  all  work  together  and  for  one 
another;  the  former,  the  homes  of  workers 
under  a  system  where  each  works  out  life's 
problem  in  his  or  her  own  way;  where  chance 
becomes  an  important  element  to  success  and 
greed  and  selfishness  do  the  rest.  The  one  a 
system  where  education  and  training  in  the 
right  direction,  coupled  with  proper  environ- 
ment, have  brought  men  to  the  full  realization 
of  man's  obligations  to  man ;  the  other,  a  system 
where  education  and  training  in  the  wrong 
direction,  coupled  with  improper  environment, 
cause  greed  and  selfishness, — cause  man's  in- 
humanity to  man. 


CHAPTER  XI 


TRUE  CHRISTIANITY 


The  next  day  was  to  those  people  the  same 
as  the  day  we  call  Sunday.  Upon  this  day  no 
labor  is  performed  except  that  of  actual  neces- 
sity, yet  it  is  not  a  day  entirely  devoted  to 
recreation  and  amusements.  It  is  a  day  of 
quiet,  repose  and  peace, — a  holy  day:  a  day  in 
which  the  people  seemed  to  act  and  feel  thank- 
ful that  they  are  alive  to  enjoy  an  existence  and 
able  to  associate  and  mingle  with  one  another; 
not  a  day  in  which  the  people  appear  solemn 
and  sanctimonious,  but  a  day  when  all  are, 
rather,  joyous  and  happy. 

When  Creon  informed  me  in  the  morning  that 
the  day  was  one  corresponding  to  our  Sabbath, 
I  was  at  once  interested  in  ascertaining  whether 
it  was  a  day  set  apart  for  religious  worship 
and,  if  it  were,  to  what  extent  the  people  ob- 
served it.  If  it  were  a  day  of  religious  worship, 
whether  that  religion  were  one  of  mere  form, — 
something  laid  down  and  prescribed, — or  a  re- 
ligion flowing  forth  from  the  soul, — real  sub- 
stantial and  responsive,  good  and  helpful  to- 
day, to-morrow,  and  for  all  time :  not  a  Sunday 

194 


True  Christianity  195 

religion  to  be  observed  upon  that  particular  day 
and  cast  aside  during  the  balance  of  the  week, 
as  a  cumbersome  thing  that  interferes  with  the 
ordinary  affairs  of  life;  not  a  religion  to  take 
with  one  to  church  and  be  disregarded  at  all 
other  times;  not  a  pretended  religion,  but  one 
of  reality, — believed  in,  practiced  and  followed 
in  every-day  life. 

''Our  religious  belief,"  said  Creon,  "never 
changes,  and  is  a  truly  Christian  religion.  A 
religion  that  makes  men  better  and  happier  and 
life  more  joyous  and  worth  the  living.  It  is 
not  bound  about  by  rules  and  regulations  laid 
down  by  man.  Our  religion  forms  a  part  of  our 
education,  and  by  following  its  teachings  in  our 
every-day  life  we  are,  as  you  will  find,  a  happy, 
prosperous  people.  It  is  the  same  religion  as 
your  Christ  taught  your  people  nearly  two 
thousand  years  ago,  and  we  follow  it,  live  up  to 
it,  and  are  governed  by  it. 

"By  conducting  our  lives  in  accordance  with 
its  teachings,  we  deal  justly  with  ourselves  and 
with  one  another.  When  all  men  do  that,  they 
are  true  Christians,  and  need  not  worry  about 
this  life  or  the  life  hereafter.  Your  people  have 
a  religion  that  is  grand  and  sublime,  but  it 
appears  to  me  that  they  have  but  little  regard 
for  it. 

"Did  not  your  Saviour  say  that,  'all  they  that 
take  the  sword  shall  perish  with  the  sword,'  and 
has  it  not  always  proven  to  be  a  true  saying? 


196  Beyond  the  Horizon 

Yet  we  find  in  your  world  vast  armies  of  men, 
who  call  themselves  Christians,  killing  and 
mangling  one  another  in  a  manner  not  known 
among  the  most  savage  of  beasts. 

"Did  He  not  also  say,  'lay  not  up  for  your- 
selves treasures  upon  earth,'  and  yet  is  not  that 
the  very  thing  all  your  people  are  engaged  in 
doing?  And  if  there  are  any  who  do  not 
succeed  in  getting  and  retaining  treasures  on 
your  earth,  is  it  not  because  they  are  unable  to 
get  them  away  from  the  man  who  has  them  ? 

"Did  He  not  tell  you  that  'where  your  treas- 
ure is  there  will  your  heart  be  also'?  And  does 
not  that  mean  that  if  you  are  seeking  gold,  your 
life  is  devoted  to  gold, — that  you  are  grasping 
and  selfish  and  care  not  for  the  suffering  of 
others,  so  long  as  you  gain  the  object  for  which 
you  strive? 

"You  call  yourselves  a  Christian  people,  and 
yet  how  many  are  there  among  you  who  in  their 
every-day  life  follow  the  teachings  and  com- 
mand of  that  Great  Teacher?  Do  not  your  lives 
show  that,  while  you  pretend  to  follow  His 
teachings,  it  is  a  pretense  and  nothing  more; 
that  instead  of  following  His  precepts  you  live 
lives  that  are  in  direct  conflict  to  them?  Are 
you  not  therefore  subject  to  greater  censure 
than  though  you  did  not  make  any  pretensions 
whatever? 

' '  Can  a  man  possessing  more  wealth  than  he 
can   possibly   have   use   for,   when   others   are 


True  Christianity  197 

hungry  and  in  need  of  money,  retain  that  wealth 
and  be  a  Christian? 

"You  pretend  to  be  Christians  and  followers 
of  Him  at  whose  birth  the  angels  proclaimed: 
'On  earth  peace,  good  will  towards  men!'  Yet 
you  train  your  youths  to  war,  to  fight,  to  kill, 
and  destroy  one  another.  You  instill  into  their 
minds  the  idea  that  to  be  heroes  and  have  their 
names  emblazoned  upon  columns  of  marble  and 
granite,  or  upon  pages  of  history,  they  may  kill 
and  mutilate  their  fellow-men.  Do  you  not 
think  your  soldiers  would  show  greater  hero- 
ism, a  more  Christian  spirit,  if  they  would  all 
throw  down  their  arms,  their  weapons  of  de- 
struction, shake  hands  with  their  enemy,  em- 
brace him  and  then  all  go  home  to  their  mothers, 
to  their  wives  and  children  and  become  peace- 
ful, law-abiding  human  beings,  men  of  peace,  in 
a  world  of  peace? 

"Under  your  pretense  of  being  Christians 
you  even  send  forth  with  your  armies  men, 
whom  you  call  ministers  of  the  gospel  of  Christ, 
to  preach  and  instruct  your  soldiers  in  His 
teachings,  while  they  carry  on  their  awful  work 
of  death  and  destruction. 

"I  say  to  you  that  so  long  as  your  people 
simulate  Christianity,  instead  of  practicing  it 
and  following  the  teachings  of  Him  who  led  the 
way,  who  directed  you  in  the  right,  just  so  long 
will  there  be  strife  and  bloodshed, — just  so  long 


198  Beyond  the  Horizon 

will  your  people  be  weighed  down  with  the 
burden  of  war. 

"You  all  know  that  if  you  would  truly  follow 
His  teachings,  as  we  do,  there  could  not  be  any 
wars,  any  envy,  any  hate,  any  greed,  any 
poverty,  any  want;  yet  knowing  all  that,  you 
seemingly  prefer  to  have  those  things  rather 
than  to  live  lives  in  accordance  with  His 
directions.  You  would  rather  pretend  to  do 
than  do." 

"You  say,"  I  replied,  "that  if  we  'followed 
His  teachings  as  your  people  do,'  I  am  afraid 
I  do  not  understand  your  meaning.  Do  I  not 
see  your  people  drinking  wine?  Do  they  not 
dance,  have  horse  races,  attend  theaters  and 
other  places  of  amusements?  Are  they  not  an 
amusement-loving  people?  From  what  I  have 
seen  of  the  people  during  the  short  time  I  have 
been  here,  they  appear  to  be  very  fond  of 
pleasure.  I  find  that  they  devote  much  time  to 
sports  and  amusements." 

"True,"  he  interposed,  "and  why  not?  Is 
there  anything  in  the  teachings  of  Christ  that 
forbids  man's  enjoying  life  in  a  moderate, 
peaceful,  rational  manner, — in  a  sane,  common- 
sense  way?  Is  there  anything  bad  or  wrong 
in  pitting  one  horse  against  another,  so  long 
as  they  are  not  overworked  and  the  pastime  is 
not  carried  beyond  the  line  of  true  sport?  Is 
the  proper  kind  of  a  play,  or  a  concert,  or  a 
theater,  in  any  way  harmful  ? 


True  Christianity  199 

"Did  not  Christ,  when  he  furnished  the  multi- 
tude with  loaves  and  fishes,  furnish  them  with 
wine  also?  I  say  to  you  that  there  is  not  in 
His  teachings  anything  that  forbids  the  free 
enjoyment  of  life.  But  one  of  His  precepts  is 
moderation. 

"In  leading  a  truly  Christian  life  there  is 
nothing  that  requires  one  to  be  solemn  of  face 
or  grave  of  manner.  But  instead  a  man  that  is 
a  true  Christian,  a  true  follower  of  the  Great 
Teacher,  should  be  happy,  joyous,  and  full  of 
life;  a  man  among  his  fellow-men.  He  should 
enjoy  life  at  its  best." 

While  we  were  thus  engaged  in  conversation 
the  air  was  suddenly  filled  with  the  music  of 
bells,— music  that  now  flowed  forth  and  lingered 
in  the  air,  then  gradually  faded  into  nothing  — 
now  loud,  full  and  strong,  vibrating  upon  the 
air  in  tones  that  carried  beyond  the  city,  out 
over  the  bosom  of  the  lake.  They  were  the 
Sabbath  bells  of  old,— bells  to  memory  sweet — 
telling  of  calm  and  peace,  of  days  gone  but  not 
forgotten;  music  that  called  me  back  to  the 
days  of  my  boyhood,— of  the  peaceful  New  Eng- 
land village  home. 

"Do  your  people  have  places  for  worship?" 
I  inquired.  "Those  bells  remind  me  of  the 
church  bells  of  my  world.  To  my  mind  there  is 
nothing  more  beautiful  than  the  music  of  dis- 
tant bells.     The  full  harmony  of  their  mellow 


200  Beyond  the  Horizon 

tones  soothes  the  trouhled  mind  and  creates  a 
feeling  of  peace  and  contentment." 

''Yes,"  he  replied,  "we  have  places  of  wor- 
ship, but  not  the  same  as  with  your  people. 
When  the  weather  is  pleasant  our  places  of 
worship  are  in  the  parks  and  groves.  There  we 
have  music  and  lectures,  or  what  you  might  call 
'  sermons. '  When  the  weather  is  unsuitable  for 
outside  gatherings,  the  theaters,  schoolhouses 
and  public  buildings  are  used.  With  us  we  do 
not  have  any  difference  in  creeds  to  cause  con- 
tention. We  have  no  religious  dogmas,  formu- 
lated and  asserted  by  human  authority.  Our 
religion  is  broad,  universal,  and  divine.  It  is 
the  essence  of  life,  useful  and  helpful  and  not 
a  burden.  It  does  not  interfere  with  the  pursuit 
by  man  of  any  useful  occupation,  or  with  his 
reasonable  enjoyments  and  pleasures.  While 
we  believe  that  it  insures  to  us  a  life  hereafter, 
we  know  that  it  makes  life  here  pleasant  and 
enjoyable.  We  know  that  by  living  in  full 
accordance  with  its  precepts  it  has  made  a 
whole  human  race  civilized  and  enlightened." 

"Do  I  understand,"  I  inquired,  "that  your 
people  believe  in  a  future  life?" 

1 '  Why,  certainly  we  do, ' '  he  answered.  ' '  But 
with  that  we  concern  ourselves  very  little,  and 
give  our  attention  to  living  upright,  honorable 
lives  here.  We  believe  that  by  dealing  justly 
with  one  another;  by  recognizing  the  rights  of 
others;  by  doing  that  which  is  right;  by  prac- 


True  Christianity  201 

ticing  what  we  preach  (and  we  do  that  at  all 
times),  we  need  have  no  fear  of  the  future. 
We  know  that  by  so  living  we  are  the  gainers 
for  the  present,  and  that  for  the  future  we  need 
have  no  concern.  But,  here  comes  Mr.  Tweto. 
I  will  call  Hallie  and  then  we  will  proceed  to 
the  parks.  I  do  not  want  to  miss  the  music  and 
services ;  and  I  am  sure  you  will  be  interested. ' ' 

Upon  arriving  at  one  of  the  nearby  parks 
that  bordered  upon  the  lake,  we  found  a  large 
gathering  of  people  already  assembled.  A  band 
was  playing,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  people 
were  seated  under  the  trees,  listening  to  the 
music,  although  there  were  some  strolling 
about  the  grounds  engaged  in  low  conversation. 
There  were  many  children,  of  all  ages,  present, 
and  I  observed  that  they  were  quiet  and 
orderly;  that  all  were  well  and  neatly  dressed, 
clean,  and  well  mannered. 

Just  before  the  band  commenced  to  play  the 
next  number  after  we  arrived,  the  leader 
stepped  to  the  front  of  the  platform  and  raised 
his  baton,  whereupon  all  present  arose,  joining, 
with  few  exceptions,  their  voices  with  the 
music  of  the  band ;  and  I  could  very  readily  tell 
that  they  were  a  people  fond  of  music,  and  had 
received  musical  training. 

The  program  throughout  was  that  of  a  high- 
class  concert,  with  a  short  lecture  upon  the 
brotherhood  of  man,  delivered  by  a  gentleman, 
who,  Mr.  Tweto  informed  me,  was  the  Superin- 


202  Beyond  the  Horizon 

tendent  of  the  City  Schools.  Some  of  the 
thoughts  that  he  expressed  I  shall  not  soon 
forget. 

"The  brotherhood  of  mankind,"  he  said, 
"the  doctrine  of  universal  benevolence,  is  the 
perfection  of  human  existence.  We  long  ago 
reached  that  state  of  existence,  and  have  ever 
since  maintained  it.  It  may  be  hard  for  bar- 
barians to  overcome  their  warlike  tendencies 
and  cast  aside  their  greed  and  envy,  but  when 
the  higher  state  is  once  attained,  it  is  an  easy 
matter  to  uphold  and  continue  it.  When  this 
perfection  of  human  existence  is  once  reached 
by  a  race  of  people,  that  race  would  no  sooner 
return  to  its  former  manner  of  living  than 
would  a  highly  educated,  intelligent,  upright 
man  fall  back  to  a  life  of  ignorance  and  crime." 

After  having  seen  these  people  in  all  their 
enjoyment  of  life  I  could  appreciate  and  com- 
prehend the  truth  of  all  he  said.  I  could  see 
that  it  would  be  impossible  for  them  to  engage 
in  war,  to  deliberately  prepare  to  kill  their 
fellow-men;  that  it  would  be  impossible  for 
them  to  cause  others  to  suffer. 

In  other  parks  that  we  visited  there  was,  as 
in  the  first,  music  and  gatherings  of  people.  The 
inhabitants  of  a  whole  city  were  enjoying  a  day 
of  rest  and  peaceful  enjoyment ;  each  the  social 
equal  of  the  other ;  none  arrogant,  haughty  and 
proud,  because  they  chanced  to  possess  that 
which  others  do  not  have. 


True  Christianity  203 

These  people  being  fond  of  sports  and  devot- 
ing so  much  of  their  time  to  their  enjoyments,  I 
had  expected  there  would  be  ball  games  and 
other  amusements  for  their  entertainment,  and 
so  expressed  myself  to  Creon. 

' '  No, ' '  he  replied ;  ' '  our  people  have  so  much 
leisure  time  for  amusement  that  upon  this  day 
they  do  not  need  to  be  amused  by  games.  It  is 
not  with  us  as  it  is  with  your  people.  In  your 
world  all  are  so  busy  during  the  week  that  on 
your  Sunday  they  feel  that  they  must  have 
their  amusements,  and  therefore  neglect  the 
churches. 

"How  can  you  expect  your  laboring  men,  or 
your  mechanics,  who  work  hard  during  the  six 
days  of  labor,  to  devote  the  seventh  to  attend- 
ing church  where  they  are  usually  not  wanted, 
unless  they  donate  a  portion  of  their  hard  earn- 
ings to  its  support?  They  feel  that  they  must 
have  some  amusements  and  if  they  have  to 
spend  their  money,  a  ball  game  furnishes 
amusement,  and  is  more  congenial  than  a  church 
service.  Their  lives  are  hard  at  best,  and  no 
one  can  blame  them  for  their  choice.  Your  busi- 
ness men  and  professional  men  are  glad  to  be 
relieved  from  their  cares  and  perplexities,  and 
having  been  bound  down  to  their  offices  and 
stores  for  six  days,  are  not  content  unless  they 
devote  the  seventh  to  recreation. 

"It  is  natural  for  man  to  seek  fresh  air  and 
sunshine,  for  without  them  he  cannot  long  re- 


204  Beyond  the  Horizon 

main  healthy  and  thrive.  A  man  who  does  not 
enjoy  the  beauties  of  nature  is  abnormal  and 
cannot  enjoy  life  as  he  should. 

"Many  of  your  people  are  closely  confined 
to  their  offices  and  stores,  and  in  their  work- 
shops some  eight  to  twelve,  and  even  more, 
hours  each  day,  and  therefore  lead  lives  that 
are  unnatural  to  men,  and  being  unnatural,  in 
their  everyday  living,  are  liable  to  acquire  arti- 
ficial tastes  and  desires.  Men  who  lead  normal 
lives  are  moderate  and  temperate,  while  those 
who  live  under  conditions  that  are  not  natural 
to  the  existence  of  mankind  are  liable  to  indulge 
in  excesses,  become  intemperate,  and  form  a 
desire  for  low  and  vulgar  amusements. 

"You  must  admit  that  to  work  long  hours  in 
a  poorly  lighted  and  badly  ventilated  factory, 
or  workshop,  is  not  conducive  to  good  health, 
and  does  not  tend  to  broaden  the  mind  and 
fully  develop  the  body. 

"After  seeing  how  many  of  your  people  are 
obliged  to  live,  or,  I  might  say,  exist, — I  do 
not  think  it  strange  that  a  large  percentage  are 
not  fully  developed  mentally  and  physically. 
The  mind  and  body  of  man  cannot  be  brought 
to  a  proper  state  of  development  upon  poor 
food,  bad  air,  long  hours  of  labor,  and  no  leisure 
for  proper  amusements.  Neither  am  I  sur- 
prised that  your  people  are  continually  enlarg- 
ing your  buildings  for  the  care  of  the  insane 
and  your  prisons  for  your  criminals. 


True  Christianity  205 

"Your  people  are  fond  of  making  laws,  and 
are  continually  striving  by  means  of  these  laws 
to  bring  about  reform,  but  they  usually  go  about 
it  in  a  wrong  way. 

' '  After  studying  your  conditions,  I  have  con- 
cluded that  it  would  be  good  economy  if  your 
governments,  as  you  call  them,  would  protect 
and  care  for  those  that  are  unable  to  provide 
for  themselves  wholesome  food  to  eat  and  com- 
fortable places  in  which  to  live,  put  them  in 
the  way  of  proper  living,  and  give  them  a 
chance.  Let  them  do  away  with  those  districts 
of  poverty  to  be  found  in  all  of  your  cities,  and 
see  to  it  that  no  one  shall  be  employed  in  places 
that  are  unfit  for  human  beings  to  work  in.  The 
expense, — which  is  the  first  thing  your  people 
consider, — would  more  than  be  saved  by  the 
benefits  received. 

"In  the  first  place  there  would  be  a  great 
saving  in  the  doing  away  with  much  sickness 
and  disease.  Then,  the  people  as  well  as  their 
children  would  become  more  efficient  men  and 
women,  better  developed  mentally  and  physi- 
cally, and,  therefore,  better  citizens.  The 
better  and  more  efficient  the  citizen,  the  greater 
asset  he  becomes  to  the  community.  Then, 
without  abject  poverty,  and  all  of  the  misery 
that  goes  with  it,  there  would  be  fewer  criminals 
and  less  insanity.  For  poverty  is  the  great 
breeder  of  crime,  and  the  mind  breaks  under 
the  misery  that  follows  in  its  wake. 


206  Beyond  the  Horizon 

"But  suppose  that  from  the  standpoint  of 
your  cold  dollars  and  cents,  the  saving  hap- 
pened not  to  be  equal  to  the  expense ;  still,  you 
would  save  much  anguish  and  suffering  of 
human  beings,  and  the  child  of  poverty  would 
have  a  chance.  Its  life  would  not  be  worse  than 
blotted  out." 

Creon  was  silent,  and  for  some  time  remained 
so,  occupied  in  deep  thought,  his  countenance 
clouded  by  a  shade  of  sadness.  Then,  turning 
to  me,  he  earnestly  inquired: 

"Can  you  realize  what  abject  poverty  means? 
To  have  food  your  one  thought  by  day  and  to 
see  it  in  your  dreams  by  night ;  to  eat  the  very 
poorest  of  food  and  curse  because  you  cannot 
get  more;  to  be  numb  with  cold;  to  shiver  and 
shake  and  have  no  way  in  which  you  can  get 
warmth;  to  hunt  for  food,  and  prowl  and 
crouch  like  a  beast  of  prey;  when  to  see  a  man 
who  has  the  appearance  of  being  well  fed,  you 
feel  in  your  envy  and  hunger  that  you  could 
tear  him  open  if  you  but  had  the  strength;  to 
reach  the  state  where  you  had  nothing  to  eat 
yesterday  or  to-day  and  no  reason  to  expect 
any  food  to-morrow  or  the  day  after;  to  feel 
that  your  life  is  slowly  leaving  your  body  for 
lack  of  food  and  warmth  to  sustain  it,  yet  to 
know  that  there  is  food  in  plenty;  that  it  is 
growing  in  the  fields;  that  warehouses  and 
stores  are  filled  with  it ;  that  it  is  being  brought 
into  the  city  in  train-loads;  that  by  some  it  is 


True  Christianity  207 

being  wasted  and  thrown  away,  but  for  you 
there  is  none,  because  you  have  not  the  gold 
with  which  to  procure  it. 

' '  In  order  to  see  and  feel  what  the  poverty  of 
your  world  is  like,  I  once  clad  myself  in  rags, 
and  without  a  dollar  in  my  pocket,  let  the 
poverty-stricken  district  of  one  of  your  large 
cities  engulf  me  for  more  than  a  week.  Dur- 
ing that  time  I  fought  for  an  existence  side  by 
side  with  those  miserable  wretches  who  there 
exist  from  day  to  day, — they  know  not  how. 
For  the  time  I  became  one  of  them,  and  know 
what  it  is  to  be  one  of  the  poor,  despised,  and 
forgotten  in  your  world." 

Then,  pausing  for  a  moment,  he  continued : 

"But  of  the  woman!  She  who'  has  been 
driven  to  the  lowest  depth  by  the  injustice  of 
man ;  she  who  is  without  hope ;  for  whom  there 
is  no  helping  hand,  scoffed  at  and  derided  by 
her  own  sex  and  scorned  by  men, — it  is  she  who 
drinks  to  the  dregs  the  cup  of  despair. 

"The  cruel  and  inhuman  manner  in  which 
your  people  treat  poor,  fallen  woman  is  almost 
beyond  belief.  To  her  you  hold  out  no  promise 
of  forgiveness,  while  the  man,  upon  whom  the 
blame  should  usually  fall  is  not  even  censured. 

"Why  should  the  finger  of  scom  always  be 
pointed  at  the  weak  woman,  when  the  man, 
equally  guilty,  is  taken  into  the  home  and  into 
the  church,  without  even  asking  to  be  forgiven 
for  the  wrong  done, — for  ruining  the  life  of  a 


208  Beyond  the  Horizon 

fellow-being?  There  are  in  your  world  to-day 
thousands  of  women  who,  on  account  of  the  per- 
fidy of  man,  are  leading  lives  of  sin  and  misery ; 
women  who  are  longing  for  a  different  life,  but 
are  longing  and  hoping  in  vain.  But  the  man, 
the  one  who  caused  the  woman's  downfall  walks 
with  head  erect,  without  shame,  and  without 
blame.  With  us,  under  our  system  of  educa- 
tion, training,  and  environment, — you  may  call 
it  religious  training,  if  you  desire, — that  would 
not  be  tolerated,  and  is  impossible. 

"In  your  world,  that  condition,  as  well  as 
your  large  percentage  of  crime  and  insanity,  is 
brought  about  by  your  idea  of  personal  gain; 
by  your  system  of  training  and  education-,  by 
the  environment  in  which  your  people  live;  by 
your  feeble  effort  to  follow  and  live  up  to  the 
rule  of  life  as  laid  down  by  Him  whom  you  pro- 
fess to  follow, — an  effort  in  which  you  so  utterly 
fail." 

For  some  time  we  had  been  seated  under  the 
trees  in  one  of  the  beautiful  parks  of  the  city, 
and  while  I  had  been  giving  my  attention  to  all 
that  Creon  had  been  saying,  I  had  at  the  same 
time  been  observing  the  people,  especially  the 
children, — of  which  there  were  many.  It  was 
evident  that  there  was  no  danger  of  race  suicide. 
With  those  people  there  was  not  the  problem 
of  not  being  able  properly  to  raise  the  child ;  to 
give  it  the  comforts  of  life.  There  the  mother 
need  have  no  worry  about  its  future,  and  need 


True  Christianity  209 

not  wonder  whether  or  not  the  boy,  as  soon  as 
he  reaches  the  age  of  manhood,  when  life  is  at 
its  best,  will  be  called  upon  to  lay  down  his  life 
in  protecting  his  country  from  invasion,  or  per- 
haps to  be  maimed  and  crippled  for  life. 

"I  think,"  observed  Creon,  "that  we  had 
better  return  to  the  hotel  for  luncheon.  I  have 
no  doubt  there  will  be  plenty  of  good  music,  and 
the  afternoon  may  be  passed  very  pleasantly 
upon  the  veranda  overlooking  the  lake. ' ' 

Mr.  Tweto  took  luncheon  with  us  and  re- 
mained until  evening,  but  as  he  and  Creon  were 
occupied  with  matters  of  mutual  interest,  Hallie 
and  I  were  left  to  ourselves  during  the  greater 
part  of  the  time. 

The  large  and  well-appointed  hotel  was  sit- 
uated in  the  midst  of  a  well-kept  park  upon  the 
shore  of  the  lake,  and  was  furnished  with  every 
comfort  and  attraction  that  one  might  desire; 
and  I  could  not  but  observe  that  the  guests  were 
in  keeping  with  their  surroundings.  Their 
dress,  manner,  and  bearing  proclaimed  them  to 
be  persons  of  culture  and  refinement,  and  it  was 
evident  that  they  had  never  been  heavily 
burdened  with  the  cares  and  perplexities  of  life. 

As  I  observed  them,  it  seemed  to  me  that  the 
hotel  could  not  be  of  the  family  class,  like  the 
one  we  had  stopped  at  on  the  day  we  came  from 
the  mountain  after  leaving  our  car,  but  one  for 
the  accommodation  of  those  who  were  enjoying 


210  Beyond  the  Horizon 

their  vacation,  or,  which  seemed  more  probable, 
some  special  privileges. 

Having  all  of  my  life  been  used  to  seeing 
people  with  money  enjoying  privileges  that 
those  without  it  could  not  have,  and  having  been 
one  of  the  privileged  class  myself,  I  could  not 
readily  get  away  from  the  idea  that  there  were 
people  of  that  class  in  this  world.  It  was  some 
time  before  my  mind  could  fully  grasp  the  fact 
that  there  all  men  were  truly  equal,  and  that 
all  enjoyed  the  same  rights;  that  none,  by  rea- 
son of  wealth  or  family  connection,  had  any 
advantage  over  others  or  any  claim  to 
superiority. 

Creon  was  familar  with  my  world,  and  hav- 
ing made  a  confidante  of  Mr.  Tweto,  I  felt  that 
I  held  his  sympathy  and  interest.  I  knew  that 
with  these  two  friends  any  blunders  that  I 
might  make  would  be  understood  and  over- 
looked. But,  when  with  Hallie,  the  blunders  I 
had  made  at  the  breakfast  table  the  morning 
of  our  arrival  at  the  Tweto  hostelry  were  for  a 
time  constantly  before  my  mind,  and  I  was  con- 
tinually haunted  by  the  fear  that  I  would  in 
some  way  make  myself  ridiculous. 

I  am  now  convinced  that,  observing  my  em- 
barrassment and  quickly  comprehending  its 
cause,  Hallie  assumed  the  task  of  making  me 
feel  at  ease,  and,  with  a  tact  and  skill  so 
wonderfully  exercised  that  I  did  not  even 
realize  its  influence,  she  soon  accomplished  her 


True  Christianity  211 

object.  Under  the  spell  of  her  presence  I 
readily  recovered  my  composure,  and  for  the 
time  forgot  that  I  was  from  another  world. 
Not  once  during  the  afternoon  did  she  do  or 
say  anything  that  would  in  any  way  recall  to 
my  mind  that  anomalistic  fact. 

During  all  the  time  that  I  remained  with 
those  people  I  could  not  get  away  from  the 
feeling  that  I  belonged  to  an  inferior  race,  or, 
rather,  I  should  say,  a  race  not  inferior  in  it- 
self but  inferior  in  its  intellectual  advancement. 
That  the  people  of  that  planet  are  mentally  and 
physically  superior  to  the  people  of  this  world 
of  ours  cannot  be  questioned.  The  fact  that 
they  have  advanced  to  that  happy  state  of 
existence  where  there  are  no  wars,  nor  forms 
of  government  by  which  wars  are  brought 
about;  no  poverty  nor  an  industrial  condition 
under  which  poverty  and  want  are  sure  to 
follow ;  no  greed  and  envy  nor  social  condition 
that  is  bound  to  foster  and  produce  them  both, 
are,  of  course,  sufficient  to  establish  their 
superiority. 

After  the  evening  meal  Creon  and  Mr.  Tweto 
left  us  to  make  a  call  upon  some  mutual 
friends,  and  Hallie  and  I  went  for  a  stroll  in" 
the  park  and  along  the  shore  of  the  lake.  For 
the  time  my  world  was  forgotten.  I  was  no 
longer  an  alien  in  a  strange  land.  I  was  ab- 
sorbed in  the  present,  with  a  hopeful  glimpse 
of  the  future  tinted  with  a  rosy  hue.     I  was, 


212  Beyond  the  Horizon 

however,  sufficiently  observant  of  my  surround- 
ings to  notice  that  there  were  many  other 
young  couples  enjoying  the  evening  and  the 
society  of  each  other. 

After  the  sun  had  disappeared  behind  the 
western  hills,  and  the  twilight  was  rapidly  giv- 
ing way  to  the  dusk  of  the  early  evening,  we 
turned  our  steps  toward  the  hotel;  but  at  the 
suggestion  of  Hallie  we  went  to  the  theater 
instead. 

I  must  confess  that  I  was  a  little  discon- 
certed when  we  arrived  at  the  entrance  to  the 
theater.  My  first  thought  was  that  I  should 
go  to  the  box  office  and  secure  tickets,  and  I 
involuntarily  thrust  my  hand  into  my  pocket 
for  the  money  necessary  for  the  purpose,  but 
instead  of  money  my  hand  came  in  contact  with 
the  metal  check  and  card  given  me  by  Creon. 
Then  my  situation  dawned  upon  me,  and  I 
wondered  just  how  I  should  proceed  in  order 
for  us  to  gain  admission  and  secure  desirable 
seats.  But  Hallie  at  that  instant,  by  producing 
her  card  and  handing  it  to  an  attendant  at  the 
door,  rescued  me  from  my  dilemma,  and  upon 
presenting  mine  also  I  was  handed  a  couple  of 
seat  checks,  whereupon  an  usher  directed  us  to 
our  seats. 

I  found  the  theater  very  similar  to  a  high- 
class  theater  in  any  of  the  larger  cities  in  my 
world.  The  costumes  and  stage  settings  were 
good;  the  play, — an  allegorical  production, — 


True  Christianity  213 

was  well  rendered,  and  the  music  excellent.  It 
would  be  useless  for  me  to  describe  the  per- 
formance in  full,  as  it  would  only  be  a  descrip- 
tion of  a  first-rate  theatrical  entertainment  in 
my  own  country. 

From  the  theater  we  returned  to  the  hotel 
and  found  Creon  waiting  for  us,  he  having  just 
returned,  after  leaving  Mr.  Tweto  with  his 
friends.  Then,  after  partaking  of  some  light 
refreshments  that  were  being  served,  we  re- 
tired to  our  rooms. 


CHAPTER  XII 

HOW    CRIMINALS    ARE    MADE 

The  next  morning  we  found  Mr.  Tweto  at 
the  boat-landing  to  wish  us  a  pleasant  journey 
and  to  bid  us  good-by  for  the  present.  Hold- 
ing my  hand  for  a  moment  in  parting,  with  a 
look  of  friendliness  and  concern  long  to  be  re- 
membered, he  said: 

"I  cannot  express  the  pleasure  I  have  had 
in  being  able  to  be  with  you  for  the  past  few 
days.  You  have  yet  many  things  to  see  and 
much  to  learn  of  our  ways  and  of  this  world. 
You  are  modest  enough  to  say  that  you  are 
only  an  average  man  of  your  world  and  that 
there  are  many  there  much  better  than  you. 

"From  all  I  had  read  about  your  people, — 
from  all  I  had  learned  of  the  things  they  do, — 
I  had  concluded  that  they  were  all  a  heartless, 
cruel  people, — selfish,  greedy  and  inhuman. 
But  now  I  am  convinced  that  their  hearts  are 
in  the  right  place,  and  that  as  a  rule  they  have 
the  desire  to  rise  above  their  present  condi- 
tions. 

"What  they  must  do  is  to  change  their 
environment  and  cast  aside  the  idea  that  gold 

214 


How  Criminals  Are  Made  215 

furnishes  the  only  means  of  happiness  and  the 
true  enjoyment  of  life,  to  do  away  with  war 
and  bloodshed,  and  to  work  for  peace  and  for 
one  another.  When  you  return  to  that  world 
of  yours  you  have  much  to  do.  But  when  you 
show  your  people  how  we  live  and  prosper,  and 
tell  them  of  the  happiness  we  enjoy  under  our 
system  they  will  not  hesitate,  but  will  at  once 
make  the  change." 

During  the  short  time  I  had  known  Mr. 
Tweto  I  had  learned  to  appreciate  his  worth 
and  had  become  much  attached  to  him.  I  was, 
therefore,  pleased  when  he  informed  me  that 
he  would  soon  have  business  that  would  require 
him  to  visit  the  capital  city, — the  city  of  our 
final  destination, — in  which  Creon  resided. 

Our  journey  down  the  lake  occupied  the 
greater  part  of  the  day.  Numerous  stops  were 
made  at  the  towns  and  villages  along  the  shore 
for  the  putting  off  and  taking  on  of  passengers 
and  baggage.  Craft  of  different  kinds  were 
plying  back  and  forth,  some  for  pleasure  and 
others  for  business. 

I  learned  that  the  motive  power  of  all  the 
boats,  except  the  sailboats,  was  electricity  from 
storage  batteries;  that  mystic  and  invisible 
power  being  more  generally  understood  and 
used  than  in  my  world. 

In  speaking  of  electricity,  Creon  informed 
me  that  their  scientists  had  reached  the  con- 
clusion that  the  power  is  universal  and  pos- 


216  Beyond  the  Horizon 

sibly  is  the  great  agent  that  controls  the  uni- 
verse,— may  even  be  the  energy  of  which  life 
itself  consists. 

"  While  we  understand  it  better  than  your 
people  do,"  he  said,  "and  control  and  use  it 
more  extensively,  we  realize  that  we  do  not 
fully  comprehend  what  it  is,  and  have  much  to 
learn  regarding  it." 

The  shores  of  the  lake  were  broken  in  places 
and  covered  with  timber,  but  otherwise  the 
surrounding  country  was  well  settled  and  in  a 
high  state  of  cultivation.  The  land  in  most 
places  was  cultivated  to  the  water's  edge. 
There  were  orchards  and  rich  fields  of  grain 
and  grass ;  pastures  with  their  herds  and  flocks ; 
neat  farm  buildings,  partly  visible  through  the 
green  of  their  sheltering  groves,  all  forming  a 
picture  of  rural  life,  both  pleasing  and  enjoy- 
able. There  were  no  abandoned  farms;  no 
buildings  and  fences  going  to  ruin;  no  fields 
growing  to  briars  and  shrubs;  no  evidence  of 
neglect  and  decay;  no  part  of  the  earth  idle 
when  needed  to  supply  food  for  man;  no  land 
controlled  by  individual  ownership. 

In  viewing  from  the  upper  deck  of  the  boat 
the  evidence  of  prosperity  that  seemed  to  be 
passing  before  me  as  we  skirted  the  shore  of 
the  lake,  I  could  fully  appreciate  the  wisdom 
of  these  people  in  their  plan  of  settling  a  new 
country.  Their  system  of  first  ascertaining  the 
resources  of  the  country  and  then  getting  the 


How  Criminals  Are  Made  217 

most  there  was  to  be  had  from  them,  and,  at 
the  same  time,  providing  homes  and  farms  for 
those  who  needed  them,  seemed  reasonable  and 
the  only  feasible  and  common-sense  way  of 
colonizing. 

The  plan  seemed  so  simple,  and  the  resulting 
good,  as  I  there  saw  it  was  so  apparent,  that  I 
could  not  but  wonder  why  the  statesmen  of 
my  country  had  not  grasped  it  when  the  oppor- 
tunity was  ours, — when  we  had  the  lands  and 
the  resources. 

"The  people  living  upon  those  farms,"  ob- 
served Creon,  "have  all  the  comforts  and  con- 
veniences of  those  who  live  in  the  cities.  Their 
homes  are  provided  with  telephone,  light,  heat, 
and  sewers,  and  their  farm-buildings  with 
power.  We  believe  that  those  who  live  upon 
the  farms  are  entitled  to  the  same  considera- 
tion and  should  enjoy  the  same  comforts  and 
conveniences  as  do  those  who  live  in  the  cities." 

"I  do  not  understand,"  I  said,  "how  that 
can  be  accomplished.  I  should  think  that  it 
would  be  too  expensive,  as  we  would  express  it 
in  my  world, — that  the  cost  of  installing  those 
systems  throughout  the  country  districts  would 
be  too  much  of  a  burden. ' ' 

"Of  course  it  would  be,"  he  replied,  "if  our 
country  districts  were  as  sparsely  settled  as 
they  generally  are  in  your  country,  and  in  the 
same  irregular  and  haphazard  manner.  You 
will  observe  that  these  farms  and  highways  are 


218  Beyond  the  Horizon 

regularly  and  systematically  laid  out.  As 
much  so,  in  fact,  as  are  the  streets  and  blocks 
in  a  city.  The  electric  and  telephone  wires  are 
laid  in  conduits  at  the  time  the  highways  are 
constructed,  and  the  country  put  in  proper  con- 
dition for  cultivation  and  occupation. 

"I  am  inclined  to  think  that  our  plan  of 
bringing  a  new  country  under  cultivation  and 
properly  fitting  it  for  the  occupation  of  man, 
considering  what  we  save,  is  no  more  expen- 
sive, figuring  on  your  basis  of  dollars  and 
cents,  than  is  yours,  when  your  losses  in  waste 
of  resources  and  loss  of  productiveness  are  all 
considered.  Then  think  of  the  results  that  we 
obtain  as  compared  with  those  obtained  accord- 
ing to  your  method." 

And  when  I  thought  of  the  land  idle  or  only 
partly  cultivated;  the  destruction  of  the 
forests;  the  water-powers  with  no  wheels  to 
turn;  the  barren  hillsides,  and  the  poorly  con- 
structed highways, — in  places  almost  impas- 
sable,— I  could  not  but  think  there  was  much 
truth  in  what  he  said. 

As  we  were  making  a  landing  at  a  small  town, 
we  observed  a  crowd  of  people  upon  a  boat  of 
considerable  size  that  was  about  to  leave  the 
wharf  as  we  landed,  and  inquired  of  one  of  the 
officers  of  our  boat  who  they  were  and  where 
they  were  going. 

''Those  people,"  he  answered,  "are  the 
workers  and  their  families  in  yonder  factory, 


How  Criminals  Are  Made  219 

who  to-day  worked  during  the  forenoon  four- 
hour  shift.  They  are  going  upon  an  excursion 
down  the  lake  to  one  of  the  islands  called 
'Beauty  Island,'  and  will  spend  the  afternoon 
and  evening  with  dancing,  tennis  and  other 
games,  winding  up  with  a  picnic  lunch  in  the 
evening.  They  will  have  a  merry  time.  The 
place  is  well  named  'Beauty  Island,'  for  it  is 
a  most  beautiful  spot  and  well  worth  seeing. 
The  members  of  the  band  they  have  with  them 
are  also  workers  in  that  shift." 

Just  then  the  band  struck  up  a  lively  air,  and 
with  music  and  laughter  the  workers  in  the  mill 
and  their  families  sailed  away  on  pleasure 
bent.  Having  performed  their  work  for  the 
day,  they  were  free  to  spend  the  afternoon  in 
innocent  and  life  giving  amusements. 

As  I  listened  to  the  strains  of  music  softly 
floating  over  the  water  and  watched  the  boat, 
with  its  load  of  merry  pleasure-seekers,  gliding 
gracefully  over  the  bosom  of  the  lake,  I  could 
hardly  realize  that  they  were  mill  workers,  liv- 
ing in  comfortable  homes,  with  no  thought  for 
the  morrow;  with  no  worries,  no  cares,  no 
troubles.  Although  realizing  that  such  a  con- 
dition of  life  was  the  natural  one,  nevertheless, 
having  all  my  life  been  accustomed  to  a  condi- 
tion so  different,  I  could  hardly  bring  myself 
to  a  full  realization  of  what  this  wonderful 
system  means  to  a  whole  human  race. 

"It  appears  to  me,"  I  observed,  turning  to 


220  Beyond  the  Horizon 

Creon,  "that  those  who  work  in  the  forenoon 
have  a  little  the  best  of  it.  The  afternoon  is 
better  fitted  for  pleasure,  since  the  amusements 
may  be  extended  into  the  evening.  I  can  see 
how  there  might  be  some  contention  among  the 
workers  regarding  the  hours  of  the  day  in 
which  they  work. ' ' 

"It  is  quite  likely,"  he  replied,  "that  those 
people  will  to-morrow  work  in  the  afternoon, 
so  that  those  who  are  now  working  will  be  able 
themselves  to  go  on  an  excursion.  It  is  usual 
for  the  workers  to  alternate  in  their  hours  of 
labor.  Those  who  work  in  the  forenoon  one 
week  work  in  the  afternoon  during  the  next. 
We  aim  to  treat  all  alike,  and  place  every  one 
upon  an  equal  basis. 

"By  going  among  our  workers  and  farmers 
or  those  engaged  in  other  occupations,  I  do  not 
think  you  will  find  any  making  complaints  con- 
cerning their  lot  in  life.  All  receive  the  same 
education  in  their  youth,  except  that  when  boys 
or  girls  show  they  are  especially  adapted  to 
follow  some  special  vocation, — for  instance, 
medicine,  teaching,  or  music, — or  take  an  un- 
usual interest  in  any  of  the  arts  or  sciences, 
after  they  have  completed  the  usual  course, 
they  can,  if  they  desire,  go  to  a  college  and  re- 
ceive special  training  in  the  particular  line  they 
appear  to  be  especially  adapted  to  follow.  And 
then  they  make  that  their  life  work. 

' '  The  profession  of  medicine  is  looked  after 


Hoiv  Criminals  Are  Made  221 

with  special  watchfulness,  and  our  physicians, 
having  received  the  most  careful  training,  are 
very  efficient.  We  consider  the  health  of  our 
people  of  the  greatest  importance." 

"Yes,"  I  interposed,  "I  have  particularly 
noticed  that  there  are  practically  none  who  do 
not  appear  to  be  in  perfect  health,  and  I  have 
intended  to  ascertain  the  reason,  but  have  been 
so  interested  in  all  that  I  have  seen  that  I  have 
not  made  the  inquiry.  In  considering  the 
matter,  I  concluded  that  their  healthy,  robust 
condition  was  principally  due  to  the  fact  that 
they  had  no  cause  for  worry,  that  all  had 
plenty  of  wholesome  food,  and  that  they  were 
never  overworked." 

1  'Of  course,"  he  replied,  "any  man  or 
woman  who  has  plenty;  whose  future  in  life  is 
assured  without  question;  who  has  short  hours 
of  labor  and  ample  time  in  which  to  pursue  his 
or  her  pleasures  and  the  means  of  doing  so, 
must  necessarily  enjoy  better  health  than  one 
who  has  to  work  long  hours,  who  has  none  of 
the  enjoyments  of  life,  and  who  has  the  phan- 
tom of  poverty  and  want  for  a  constant 
companion. 

"But  there  are  other  reasons  why  they  are, 
as  you  see,  splendid  specimens  of  physical  man- 
hood and  womanhood.  One  of  these  reasons 
is  that  the  child  is  born  into  this  world  under 
the  most  favorable  conditions.  Its  parents  are 
healthy  and  well  nurtured  in  body  and  mind, 


222  Beyond  the  Horizon 

which  is  of  great  importance  to  the  health  and 
mentality  of  the  child.  Then,  during  childhood 
and  youth,  it  is  carefully  taught  to  know  itself 
and  to  refrain  from  any  excesses  and  indul- 
gences that  will  weaken  the  body  or  impair  the 
mind. 

"We  give  as  much  attention  to  the  develop- 
ment of  the  body  as  we  do  to  the  development 
of  the  mind,  and  tireless  care,  training,  and 
attention  are  given  to  both.  What  we  desire 
and  work  for  are  able  and  efficient  citizens, — 
men  and  women  who  can  aid  and  become  use- 
ful to  the  country,  instead  of  requiring  help 
and  becoming  a  burden. 

"We  train  women  as  well  as  men  to  the  pro- 
fession of  medicine,  and  the  business  of  the 
physician  is  the  keeping  of  the  people  healthy 
as  well  as  caring  for  them  when  they  are  sick. 
Each  physician  has  a  certain  number  of  per- 
sons under  his  or  her  charge,  and  every  person 
undergoes  a  careful  physical  examination  at 
least  once  in  each  month.  If  a  physician  finds 
upon  examination  that  a  person  has  the  least 
physical  defect  or  ailment  it  receives  immediate 
attention.  A  complete  record  is  kept,  and  of 
course  each  physician  is  careful  about  keeping 
those  under  his  charge  in  the  best  of  health,  so 
as  to  maintain  as  good  a  reputation  as  possible. 
The  women  physicians  examine  the  women,  and 
the  men  physicians  the  men. 

"In  addition  to  those  who  examine  and  look 


How  Criminals  Are  Made  223 

after  the  health  of  the  people,  there  are  other 
physicians  who  are  disease  specialists,  and 
others  who  are  specialists  in  the  diseases  of 
different  parts  of  the  body.  As  soon  as  a  per- 
son is  taken  ill,  or  found  to  be  affected  with  any 
disease,  he  or  she  is  immediately  taken  in 
charge  by  a  specialist,  and  usually  taken  to  a 
hospital,  of  which  we  have  the  very  best. 

"You  see,  there  are  many  reasons  why  you 
find  our  people  enjoying  such  splendid  health. 
They  work  for  their  country  and  that  country 
takes  good  care  of  them  and  gives  them  much 
in  return.  This  country  does  not  ask  its  citi- 
zens to  lay  down  their  lives  for  it,  or  to  become 
crippled  or  broken  in  health.  Instead  of  mak- 
ing widows  and  orphans,  it  prevents,  as  far  as 
it  is  possible,  the  creation  of  widows  and  or- 
phans.   Is  not  that  as  it  should  be?" 

"How  do  you  care  for  the  insane,"  I  in- 
quired. "I  can  readily  see  that  under  your 
social  system  insanity  would  not  be  as  prevalent 
as  it  is  in  my  world,  as  here  the  things  that 
cause  apprehension  and  worry  and  induce  the 
mind  to  wander  are  eliminated.  However,  there 
must  be  some  whose  minds  are  affected,  and 
who  require  care  and  special  attention." 

"Yes,"  he  replied,  "we  have  a  few  who, 
either  through  sickness,  grief  over  the  death  of 
friends,  or  weakness  of  intellect,  become  insane 
and  require  attention.  For  those  we  have 
hospitals  that  are  under  the  charge  of  expert 


224  Beyond  the  Horizon 

physicians  and  trained  attendants.  We  also 
have  a  few  of  what  you  call  criminals,  and  you 
will  undoubtedly  be  surprised  when  I  inform 
you  that  those  we  treat  exactly  as  we  do  the 
insane.  In  fact,  our  idea  is  that  a  person  who 
appears  to  be  a  confirmed  criminal  is  unsound 
in  mind, — that  criminality  is  a  form  of  insanity 
and  that  the  man  or  woman  so  affected  requires 
t  reatment, — not  punishment. 

"With  us  there  are  not  the  conditions  that 
cause  crime  such  as  exist  with  your  people. 
The  different  classes  and  strata  of  society;  the 
environment,  greed,  wealth,  and  poverty  all  of 
which  are  conducive  to  crime, — we  do  not  have. 
In  your  world  there  are  really  three  distinct 
strata  of  humanity :  At  the  top  are  the  wealthy, 
— able  to  live  without  labor  and  indulge  their 
extravagant  desires;  next,  the  middle  class, — 
those  who  are  able  to  live  comfortably;  at  the 
bottom,  the  largest  number  of  all,  those  who 
are  scorched  and  blistered  in  the  fierce  blasts 
of  the  fiery  furnaces  of  life.  Indulgence  and 
selfishness,  the  incessant  pursuit  of  pleasure, 
weaken  the  moral  sense  and  physical  powers  of 
those  of  the  upper  stratum;  want,  misery,  and 
environment,  those  of  the  lower.  It  seems  to 
be  conceded  by  those  who  have  made  a  study 
of  criminology  that  social  morals,  as  well  as  re- 
ligious principles,  are  at  their  lowest  ebb  in  the 
upper  and  lower  strata  of  society  in  your  world. 


How  Criminals  Are  Made  225 

It  is  the  middle  stratum  that  largely  provides 
for  the  other  two. ' ' 

"I  admit  we  have  the  social  strata  of  which 
you  speak,  and  realize  that  they  exist  by  reason 
of  what  now  appears  to  me  to  be  our  peculiar 
and  unreasonable  system,"  I  said.  "On  that 
account  I  am  sure  that  your  idea  that  the  crim- 
inal instinct  is  a  disease,  and  should  be  treated 
as  such  cannot  be  applied  under  the  existing 
conditions  in  my  world.  While  in  some  in- 
stances the  criminal  tendency  may  arise  from 
a  disordered  mind,  which  may  by  proper  medi- 
cal treatment  be  remedied,  I  am  sure  that  is 
not  the  case  in  all  instances." 

"That  is  very  true,"  he  replied.  "Many  of 
your  criminals  are  made  so  because  of  your 
method  of  handling  those  who  are  charged  with 
crime. 

"Your  jails  and  prisons,  and  especially  your 
jails,  are  schools  of  crime  and  nurseries  of 
criminals.  Into  them  are  hustled  indiscrimi- 
nately murderers,  burglars,  thieves,  prostitutes, 
drunkards,  and  all  the  foul  members  of  society 
your  police  and  courts  can  lay  hands  upon, 
along  with  incorrigibles,  with  detained  wit- 
nesses, and  with  persons  accused  of  misde- 
meanors, of  crimes  not  tried.  There  the  pro- 
fessional criminals  and  hardened  sinners  delight 
to  initiate  their  more  ignorant  companions  into 
all  the  mysteries  of  iniquity,  and  in  return  are 
looked  upon  as  heroes  by  the  youths  who  are 


226  Beyond  the  Horizon 

just  starting  upon  the  downward  road.  These 
youths  are  there  given  a  helping  hand,  but  not 
a  hand  that  guides  and  leads  them  in  the  right : 
it  is  a  hand  that  beckons  and  leads  them  on  to 
perdition. 

"Poverty,  drink,  and  environment  make 
many  of  your  criminals,  but  your  method  of 
handling  them  makes  many  more.  Your  jails, 
prisons,  and  courts  propagate,  rather  than  re- 
tard crime.  As  a  rule  under  your  system  you 
do  not  discriminate  between  the  confirmed  crim- 
inal and  the  novice  in  crime.  When  a  man  has 
once  served  a  term  in  prison,  he  is  ever  after 
looked  upon  with  suspicion,  and  becomes  an 
object  of  surveillance  by  the  police.  He  is 
liable  at  any  time  to  be  arrested  and  detained 
in  jail  upon  suspicion  of  being  implicated  in 
some  crime  that  may  have  been  committed; 
and,  even  though  nothing  against  him  can  be 
proven,  he  may  be  ordered  and  compelled  to 
leave  the  city  in  which  he  desires  to  make  his 
home. 

"Not  being  wanted  in  the  community,  and 
without  friends  among  the  people  with  whom 
he  would  like  to  associate,  he  is  driven  to  seek 
companionship  with  those  who,  like  himself, 
are  ostracized  from  general  society. 

"Under  your  so-called  vagabond  laws  a  man 
found  without  money  in  his  pocket  is  thrown 
into  jail  instead  of  being  given  employment. 
Those  who  are  down  in  the  nether  stratum  are 


How  Criminals  Are  Made  227 

not  given  a  chance  to  rise.     Their  rights  are 
few  and  their  wrongs  are  many." 

There  had  been  several  of  Creon's  friends  on 
the  boat  during  the  day.  One  of  them,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Grand  Council,  I  was  especially 
desirous  of  meeting,  since,  from  my  point  of 
view,  he  was  a  man  of  importance  and  entitled 
to  more  than  ordinary  respect  and  considera- 
tion. I  found  him  to  be  a  robust,  genial  gentle- 
man, with  all  the  mental  and  physical  vigor  of 
a  man  of  fifty;  although  I  knew  from  the  posi- 
tion he  occupied  that  he  must  be  past  seventy. 
I  was  somewhat  surprised  to  find  that  he  did 
not  assume  to  be  entitled  to  any  more  consid- 
eration than  any  one  else, — was  not,  in  fact, 
treated  with  any  more  deference  than  other 
persons  on  the  boat.  This,  of  course,  was  en- 
tirely different  from  the  attitude  of  my  world, 
where  persons  who  occupy  positions  of  im- 
portance in  public  affairs  are  not  only  apt  to 
demand  but  do  receive  more  consideration  and 
are  treated  with  greater  respect  than  are  those 
who  do  not  hold  what  we  term  official  positions. 
I  called  Creon's  attention  to  what  seemed  to 
me  to  be  a  want  of  respect  for  the  position,  if 
not  for  the  man,  and  expressed  my  surprise 
that  no  especial  attention  was  paid  to  him. 

"No,  certainly  not,"  he  replied.  "Why 
should  there  be?  He  is  only  doing  his  part  as 
are  all  the  others,  and  the  position  he  is  occupy- 


228  Beyond  the  Horizon 

ing  in  looking  after  the  affairs  of  the  country 
is  the  same  as  all  others  will  occupy  when  they 
arrive  at  his  age.  Here  none  are  entitled  to 
any  greater  consideration  than  any  one  else; 
no  matter  what  occupation  a  man  may  be  en- 
gaged in  or  what  position  he  may  occupy." 

Creon  spent  considerable  time  during  the  day 
with  his  friends,  leaving  Hallie  and  me  to  our- 
selves,— an  arrangement  that  was  entirely  sat- 
isfactory to  me.  The  embarrassment  I  had  at 
first  experienced  when  in  her  presence  had  left 
me ;  and  as  soon  as  she  saw  that  I  was  no  longer 
sensitive  and  did  not  object  to  being  considered 
a  being  from  another  world,  she  talked  very 
freely  and  gave  me  much  valuable  information. 
Later,  while  in  the  Capital  City,  it  was  through 
her  that  I  was  given  the  entree  into  the  various 
clubs  and  societies  that  made  up  the  social  life 
of  that  place. 

At  first  we  confined  our  remarks  to  sports 
and  amusements,  such  as  golf,  polo,  and  tennis, 
and  I  soon  found  that  she  could  discuss  those 
games  like  an  expert  and  that  her  familiarity 
with  them  was  that  of  a  player,  not  an  on- 
looker. 

"I  have  played  polo  considerably,"  I  re- 
marked, while  we  were  discussing  the  game, 
"and  nothing  would  please  me  more  than  to 
have  an  opportunity  to  play  the  game  while  I 
am  here.  But,  of  course,  that  would  be  out  of 
the  question,  as  I  do  not  have  any  polo  ponies, 


How  Criminals  Are  Made  229 

or  the  means  of  procuring  them.  There  are 
none  to  be  purchased,  of  course,  and  if  there 
were,  I  have  no  money;  so  I  will  have  to  give 
up  that  idea.  The  only  thing  for  me  to  do  is  to 
procure  all  the  information  I  can  concerning 
your  people  in  the  shortest  time  possible  and 
return  to  my  world. ' ' 

Her  rippling  laughter  for  a  moment  was 
rather  disconcerting,  although  I  could  not  but 
admire  the  flash  of  pearly  teeth  that  it  revealed. 

"Of  course  you  can  play  polo,"  she  asserted. 
"You  are  one  of  us,  are  you  not!  You  must 
remember  that  while  you  are  here  you  own  the 
whole  country,  and  everything  there  is  in  it, 
or,  at  least  you  have  as  much  right  to  it  as 
any  one  else.  You  will  soon  become  used  to 
our  ways,  I  am  sure,  and  when  you  do,  you 
will  see  how  much  better  it  is  than  your  method 
of  ownership. 

"I  cannot  understand  how  your  people  get 
along  with  a  few  owning,  or  controlling  much 
more  than  they  can  possibly  have  any  use  for, 
while  there  are  so  many  that  do  not  have  prac- 
tically anything, — not  even  enough  to  eat,  or 
clothing  enough  to  make  them  comfortable. 

"I  understand  that  a  great  many  of  the 
homes  in  which  your  people  live  are  owned, — as 
you  call  it, — by  some  one  else,  who  has  the 
right,  which  is  often  used,  to  turn  out  the  occu- 
pants and  then  close  up  the  houses  and  not  let 
any  one  live  in  them  unless  they  are  paid  a  cer- 


230  Beyond  the  Horizon 

tain  amount  of  what  you  term  'money.'  That 
seems  such  a  strange  and  wrong  way  of  doing 
that  I  cannot  comprehend  it.  Father  has  tried 
to  explain  it  to  me  from  the  point  of  view  of 
your  people,  but  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  I 
must  be  very  dense,  as  I  cannot  understand  it 
at  all. 

"That  something  that  your  people  call 
'money'  is  another  thing  that  I  am  unable  to 
understand.  It  seems  to  have  such  a  fascina- 
tion for  most  of  them.  And  yet,  all  of  it  that 
I  have  ever  seen  is  either  a  piece  of  colored 
paper  with  some  figures  on  it  or  some  kind  of 
metal  that  your  people,  with  much  hardship 
and  labor,  dig  out  of  the  ground.  Are  those  not 
strange  things  to  worship  and  fight  over? 
Father  always  brings  back  some  specimens  and 
puts  them  in  the  museum  among  the  curiosities. 

"No,  I  now  call  to  mind  that  there  are  some 
kinds  of  your  money  that  are  not  made  of 
paper  or  metal,  as  father  brought  back  some  of 
it  at  one  time  that  was  made  of  bone,  and  also 
some  that  was  made  from  rather  pretty  shells. 
I  presume  those  kinds  are  more  valuable  than 
the  others,  as  father  said  they  were  not  so 
much  in  general  use." 

At  first  I  thought  I  would  try  and  explain  to 
her  our  money  system  and  show  her  how  neces- 
sary and  useful  it  was,  how  by  means  of  it  we 
carried  on  our  wars,  our  vast  commercial  enter- 
prises,   operated    our    governments,   improved 


Hoiv  Criminals  Are  Made  231 

our  cities,  built  railroads  and  educated  our  chil- 
dren ;  that  with  it  the  people  could  procure  food 
and  clothing,  houses  and  lands,  leisure  and 
pleasure,  as  well  as  servants,  both  human  and 
brute,  to  do  their  bidding.  But  before  I  could 
formulate  my  ideas  to  my  satisfaction,  she  had 
taken  up  the  subject  in  a  manner  that  convinced 
me  that  it  would  be  a  useless  undertaking  on  my 
part, — and  perhaps  the  least  said  by  me  the 
better. 

"I  remember,"  she  continued,  ''that  after 
Father  came  back  from  his  first  trip  to  your 
world,  he  gave  a  lecture  on  your  people  and 
their  social  and  industrial  systems;  and  when 
he  took  up  your  money  subject  and  exhibited 
some  specimens  and  dwelt  upon  the  hardships 
that  many  of  your  people  undergo  to  obtain  it, 
and  of  the  misery,  want  and  suffering  that  are 
endured  by  those  who  do  not  possess  it,  there 
was  hardly  a  dry  eye  in  that  vast  audience.  If 
it  causes  so  much  trouble  T  should  think  that 
your  people  would  destroy  it  all.  I  am  almost 
afraid  to  touch  it.  Knowing  what  I  do  about 
it,  I  cannot  but  look  upon  it  as  dangerous, — 
even  to  handle." 

"It  is  not  dangerous  for  you  to  handle  here, 
at  least,"  I  replied;  "although  I  will  have  to 
admit  that  the  handling  of  it  in  an  improper 
manner  by  people  in  my  world  has  been  the 
cause  of  much  grief  and  suffering." 

"Another  strange  thing  about  it  is,  I  under- 


232  Beyond  the  Horizon 

stand,  that  in  many  instances  it  causes  those 
who  do  have  it  to  be  wretched  and  unhappy; 
even  causing-  children  to  turn  against  their 
parents  and  parents  against  their  children. 
How  do  you  account  for  it?  Father  never 
could  explain  it  to  me,  so  I  could  understand 
the'  reason  of  it  all ;  but  I  am  sure  you  can  tell 
me." 

"I  am  afraid"  I  replied,  "that  I  cannot  en- 
lighten you  any,  as  I  cannot  fully  understand 
it  myself.  In  fact,  I  had  never  given  the  sub- 
ject any  thought  until  during  the  few  days  I 
have  been  here.  Like  the  majority  of  my  fel- 
low-creatures, I  had  always  accepted  the  use 
we  make  of  money  as  a  medium  of  exchange 
as  one  of  the  best  evidences  that  we  were  really 
civilized.  I  had  always  taken  it  for  granted 
that  there  was  no  other  way  of  conducting  af- 
fairs, and  had  never  looked  upon  it  from  your 
point  of  view;  therefore  the  ridiculous  side  of 
the  question  had  never  appealed  to  me." 

' '  But  you  are  commencing  to  view  the  matter 
in  a  different  light  from  what  you  did  I  am 
sure,"  she  observed. 

"Yes,  not  only  are  my  views  changing  upon 
that  subject,  but  upon  many  others,"  I  replied; 
' '  and  I  am  going  to  rely  upon  you  to  act  as  my 
principal  tutor  while  I  remain  in  this  world." 

"I  am  certain  you  will  make  an  apt  pupil," 
she  asserted  with  a  smile,  "and  therefore  I 
shall  do  my  very  best. ' ' 


How  Criminals  Are  Made  233 

"You  will  always  find  me  attentive  to  my  in- 
structor, and  eager  to  learn,"  I  replied  with  a 
feeling  of  elation. 

The  sun  was  low  in  the  west  and  we  were 
approaching  the  town  where  we  were  to  disem- 
bark and  spend  the  night.  The  day  to  me  had 
been  of  much  interest.  The  stops  at  the  dif- 
ferent towns  and  villages  had  given  me  an 
opportunity  of  seeing  the  people,  busy  in  their 
employment  and  enjoying  their  pleasures. 

"I  have  to-day  seen  a  wonderful  country," 
I  remarked  as  we  stood  for  a  moment  upon  the 
landing  before  proceeding  to  the  hotel. 

"Which  is  the  more  wonderful,"  inquired 
Hallie,  "the  country,  or  the  people?" 

"The  people,"  I  replied. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

A  BAILROAD   SYSTEM 

Leaving  the  next  morning  by  train  we  trav- 
eled through  a  beautiful  country  to  a  city  over 
a  hundred  miles  distant.  Although  the  trains 
of  this  wonderful  people  are  operated  by  elec- 
tricity, yet  the  plan  of  operation  is  very  sim- 
ilar to  that  in  my  own  world.  That  is,  there 
are  through  trains  and  local  ones,  fast  trains 
and  slow,  passenger  trains  and  freight,  as  well 
as  trains  for  carrying  the  mails  and  fast  ex- 
press. 

I  found  that  their  system  of  handling  the 
mails  was  very  much  like  the  mail  system  in 
operation  in  the  world  of  my  birth.  And  it  has 
occurred  to  me  that,  taking  our  postal  system 
as  an  example  of  what  can  be  done  by  the 
people  for  the  people,  its  perfect  operation 
ought  to  convince  every  one  in  my  own  world 
of  the  feasibility  of  handling  and  controlling 
everything  pertaining  to  public  utilities  and  the 
necessities  of  life  in  the  same  common-sense 
manner. 

The  main  lines  of  their  railroads  all  have 
double  tracks,  and  many  of  them  have  four. 

234 


A  Railroad  System  235 

The  construction  and  equipment  are  of  the  best, 
and  every  precaution  possible  is  taken  to  pro- 
tect both  employees  and  passengers  from  in- 
jury. 

The  railroads,  like  everything  else  in  that 
world,  are  operated  for  the  whole  people  and 
not  for  the  special  benefit  of  any  one.  There 
are  no  railroad  magnates  to  acquire  vast 
wealth  at  the  expense  of  the  many.  There  are 
no  franchises  granted;  no  special  privileges; 
no  laws  against  the  roads  nor  in  favor  of  them ; 
no  corporations  to  be  bought  nor  corporations 
to  buy;  no  legislatures  to  be  used  nor  courts 
to  control.  There  are  no  dividends  to  be  paid 
nor  bonds  to  draw  interest;  and  manipulations 
of  stocks,  freight  rates,  and  rebates  are  un- 
known. Strikes,  lockouts,  and  blacklists  are 
impossible. 

The  lines  are  laid  out  and  constructed  with 
great  care,  in  order  to  meet  transportation 
necessities, — no  more;  with  the  consequent  re- 
sult that  there  are  no  competing  lines,  almost 
parallel  to  each  other  and  therefore  a  burden  to 
the  railroads  as  well  as  to  the  country  through 
which  they  are  operated.  Quite  different  from 
what  it  is  in  the  country  from  which  I  came, 
where  the  railroads  are  operated  under  private 
ownership,  with  the  result  that  in  many  sec- 
tions where  they  are  needed  there  are  none, 
while  in  other  sections  there  are  more  than  are 
necessary  for  proper  transportation  facilities. 


236  Beyond  the  Horizon 

Here  there  is  a  prevailing  idea  that  the  more 
railroads  there  are  the  better  it  is  for  the 
people  and  for  the  country  through  which  the 
railroads  are  operated.  But  the  extra  cost  of 
construction,  the  extra  equipment  and  cost  of 
operation, — which  must  all  be  borne  by  the 
people  in  excessive  freight  and  passenger  rates, 
are  entirely  overlooked. 

If  two  or  more  railroads  are  constructed  and 
operated  between  any  given  points,  when  one 
can  handle  all  of  the  transportation  business, 
it  is  plainly  to  be  seen  that  the  extra  cost  of 
construction,  equipping,  and  operating  the 
roads  not  needed  is  a  useless  expense  and 
burden. 

Freight  and  traffic  rates  are,  of  course,  based 
upon  the  cost  of  construction,  equipment,  and 
operation,  with  interest  charges  and  a  profit 
added.  Then,  when  the  people  complain  that 
they  are  being  charged  excessive  rates  for 
transporting  their  merchandise  and  products, 
they  are  met  with  the  contention  on  the  part  of 
the  railroad  corporations  that  they  must  be 
allowed  a  fair  rate  of  interest  upon  their  in- 
vestment, over  and  above  the  cost  of  operation. 
And  the  courts  that  have  been  created  to  adju- 
dicate disputes  that  may  arise  concerning 
transportation  rates  usually  sustain  these  con- 
tentions. 

The  high  salaries  paid  to  officials,  the 
"watered    stock,"    and   the    useless    and    fre- 


A  Railroad  System  237 

quently  enormous  expense  of  construction  and 
operation  of  so-called  "competing  lines,"  built 
into  a  part  of  the  country  already  occupied  by 
a  rival  company,  are  not  usually  deemed 
worthy  of  consideration.  But  if  they  are,  by 
chance,  considered  at  all,  it  is  understood  they 
do  not  have  much  influence  upon  the  question 
to  be  decided. 

I  had  never  considered  these  problems  until 
they  were  called  to  my  attention  by  Creon  in 
the  course  of  his  explanation  of  their  method 
of  laying  out  and  constructing  railroads  in 
that   country. 

"Every  one  must  understand,"  he  explained, 
' '  that  the  only  purpose  of  a  railroad  is  to  pro- 
vide adequate  transportation  facilities;  to 
carry  passengers  who  desire  to  travel,  either 
on  pleasure  or  business,  and  also  to  transport 
with  as  little  delay  and  cost  as  possible,  such 
produce  and  merchandise  as  may  be  necessary 
in  their  distribution  to  the  people.  There  are 
no  other  legitimate  purposes  for  which  a  rail- 
road can  be  constructed  and  operated. 

"Taking  these  facts  as  to  the  true  basis  to 
work  upon,  we  construct  only  such  railroads  as 
may  be  necessary  and  practical.  All  our  rail- 
roads are  systematically  laid  out  by  men  of  ex- 
perience,— practical  engineers, — to  meet  the 
needs  of  the  country.  It  is  all  a  matter  of  care- 
ful calculation,  after  the  country  proposed  to 
be  covered  has  been  surveyed,  and  its  adapt- 


238  Beyond  the  Horizon 

ability  for  producing,  as  well  as  the  character 
of  its  products,  has  been  fully  determined. 
From  that,  and  a  consideration  of  the  size  of 
the  cities  and  towns  to  be  served  and  the  ex- 
tent and  class  of  manufacturing,  it  can  very 
readily  be  determined  what  transportation  fa- 
cilities will  be  needed.  It  is  all  very  simple, 
and  it  is  the  only  common-sense  way. 

"I  find  that  in  your  country  there  seems  to 
be  a  continual  warfare  carried  on  between  the 
people  and  the  railroad  corporations  over 
rates,  long  and  short  hauls,  discrimination,  and 
transportation  facilities, — all  are  brought 
about  by  the  private  ownership  of  the  railroads 
and  the  consequent  irregular  and  burdensome 
system. 

1 '  I  fully  believe, ' '  he  continued,  ' '  that,  with  a 
proper  system  of  railroads  operated  upon  a 
scientific  and  economical  plan,  your  people 
would  save  enough  of  your  dollars  and  cents 
in  cost  of  transportation  in  less  than  ten  years 
to  pay  for  all  the  railroads  that  are  needed, — 
at  what  they  are  actually  worth. 

"For  the  employees  who  operate  the  trains, 
especially  the  trains  that  carry  freight,  it  is, 
in  your  country,  a  most  hazardous  occupation. 
Do  you  know  that  the  number  of  railroad  em- 
ployees killed  and  injured  is  quite  beyond  be- 
lief? I  am  informed  that  there  railroading  is 
an  occupation  almost  as  dangerous  as  being  a 
soldier  in  a  time  of  war.    Yet,  so  little  value  is 


A  Railroad  System  239 

placed  upon  human  life  by  your  people,  and 
they  have  become  so  hardened  to  the  condi- 
tions, that  very  little  concern  is  given  to  the 
matter, — it  is  accepted  as  a  matter  of  course. 

"It  seems  almost  impossible  to  make  the 
railroad  corporation  provide  even  the  most 
simple  appliances  for  the  protection  of  those 
in  their  employ.  Life  and  limb  appear  to  be 
of  little  consequence.  Time  and  money  seem 
to  be  of  more  importance  in  their  operation. 

"Your  people  make  it  a  crime  to  kill  human 
beings  under  certain  circumstances ;  and  under 
your  laws,  in  some  instances,  life  is  taken  by 
judicial  process  as  a  punishment  for  killing. 
But  you  make  no  provisions  for  the  punishment 
of  the  employers  of  labor,  who  through  neglect 
cause  the  death  of  hundreds  and  the  mutilation 
of  thousands.  War  and  business  seem  to  be 
placed  upon  the  same  plane,  with  the  idea  that 
both  must  be  carried  on  in  a  selfish  and  inhu- 
man manner,  and  that  to  each  must  be  sacrificed 
life,  limb,  and  happiness, — that  cripples,  wid- 
ows, and  orphans  are  necessary.  Your  people 
seemingly  are  unmindful  of  the  fact  that  a 
strong,  healthy  citizen  is  a  valuable  asset  to 
your  country,  while  a  cripple  becomes  a  burden. 

"If  you  should  compel  all  employers  of  labor 
to  support  the  families  of  those  whose  lives 
are  destroyed,  and  to  support  those  and  their 
families  who  are  crippled  while  engaged  in 
their    employment,    you    would   find    that   the 


240  Beyond  the  Horizon 

number  of  killed  and  maimed  would  very  soon 
materially  decrease.  Apparently  the  only  way 
to  make  the  majority  of  your  people  realize 
a  humane  sense  of  responsibility  is  through 
their  bank  account.  A  bank  account  is  a  sacred 
thing;  and  the  larger  the  account  the  more 
sacred  it  becomes." 

"Would  not  your  idea  of  making  employers 
assume  such  responsibilities  place  too  great  a 
burden  upon  those  who  are  carrying  on  the 
industries  of  the  country!"  I  inquired.  "Could 
they  do  that  and  conduct  their  business  at  a 
profit?  Could  the  railroad  corporation  con- 
tinue to  operate  their  railroads  if  they  were 
required  to  assume  the  responsibilities  of 
which  you  speak  \  It  appears  to  me  that  the 
burden  would  be  greater  than  they  could  bear." 

"I  see,"  he  replied  "that  you  are  possessed 
with  the  same  idea  that  prevails  with  nearly 
all  of  your  people:  the  idea  that  money  should 
be  first  considered, — is  of  the  utmost  impor- 
tance; that  the  misery  and  suffering,  the  life 
and  happiness,  of  those  who  labor  and  of  those 
who  are  near  and  dear  to  them,  are  of  no 
consequence  as  compared  with  money,  and 
should  be  brushed  aside  as  unworthy  of  con- 
sideration, when  your  captains  of  industry  are 
forcing  dividends  for  stockholders  and  prince- 
ly salaries  for  themselves." 

"Do  you  think  that  railroads  can  be  success- 
fully operated  upon  humanitarian  principles?" 


A  Railroad  System  241 

I  inquired.  "You  must  admit  that  under  our 
system  it  is  essential  that  the  stockholders  re- 
ceive a  fair  return  for  the  money  they  have  in- 
vested and  it  is  for  those  who  are  in  charge, — 
who  are  at  the  head, — to  see  that  they  receive 
it.  The  officials  realize  that  if  they  cannot  pro- 
duce dividends  and  make  a  good  showing  in  a 
material  way,  the  stockholders  will  be  looking 
for  others  who  will." 

"That  is  all  very  true,"  replied  Creon, 
"which  all  goes  to  show  that  your  system  is 
wrong,  and  that  the  brotherhood  of  man,  the 
doctrine  of  universal  benevolence,  has  no  place 
in  your  business  world.  If  any  business  can- 
not be  successfully  conducted  without  wantonly 
destroying  or  wrecking  the  lives  of  human  be- 
ings,— without  causing  misery  and  suffering, — 
the  manner  of  conducting  that  business  should 
be  changed  or  the  business  done  away  with 
altogether.  But  there  is  no  necessity  of  doing 
away  with  railroad  business,  or  with  any  legiti- 
mate business,  upon  that  account.  Any  busi- 
ness can,  and  should,  be  conducted  with  proper 
regard  for  the  rights  of  others.  That  is  the 
way  we  live  and  transact  our  affairs  in  this 
world,  including  the  operation  of  our  railroads. 
Why  should  it  not  be  the  same  in  yours  ?  How- 
ever, I  fear  that,  in  your  interest  in  the  matters 
that  we  are  discussing,  you  are  overlooking 
the  country  through  which  we  are  traveling." 

I  had,  in  fact,  become  so  absorbed  in  the 


242  Beyond  the  Horizon 

topic  we  were  debating  that  I  had  not  for  some 
time  been  paying  attention  to  anything  else 
and  had  really  forgotten  that  I  was  traveling 
in  a  new  world. 

"We  are  now,"  Creon  observed,  "within  the 
old-established  and  well-settled  part  of  the 
country,  where  our  system  is  in  full  operation. 
The  road  over  which  we  are  traveling  is  one 
of  our  main  lines,  and  extends  across  the  coun- 
try for  over  three  thousand  miles.  The 
branches,  or  feeders,  extend  out  on  each  side 
and  are  similar  to  those  called  trolley-lines  in 
your  world.  They  are  usually  run  in  an  open 
space  in  the  center  of  the  highways  and  join 
the  main  line  at  the  cities  and  towns.  These 
branch  roads  can  be  more  economically  con- 
structed and  operated  than  the  main  lines,  and 
at  the  same  time  they  give  every  facility  for 
transportation.  The  cities  and  larger  towns, 
of  course,  are  all  located  upon  the  main  lines, 
as  well  as  are  all  of  the  large  manufacturing 
plants  and  warehouses. 

"There  are  only  two  problems  to  be  solved 
by  the  people  of  any  country,  great  or  small. 
The  first  is  to  produce  enough  for  all;  and  the 
second  is  to  distribute  that  which  is  produced 
so  that  none  will  fail  to  receive  his  or  her 
share.  Try  as  you  will,  you  cannot  make  any- 
thing else  out  of  it.  But  this  you  will  always 
find, — that  the  more  complications  you  have  the 


A  Railroad  System  243 

harder  the  problem  and  the  more  dissatisfac- 
tion there  will  be. 

"Any  country  in  which  a  few  are  able  to 
procure  much  more  than  they  have  any  possible 
use  for,  while  there  are  many  that  are  unable 
to  procure  enough  for  their  actual  needs,  and 
others  not  even  enough  to  sustain  life,  is  af- 
flicted with  a  system  that  is  selfish  and  bad.  It 
is  self  evident  that  when  a  large  percentage  of 
the  people  is  unable  to  procure  the  actual  ne- 
cessities of  life,  while  at  the  same  time  others 
live  in  luxury  without  effort,  something  is 
wrong, — the  whole  system  is  bad. 

"Our  whole  industrial  life  is  given  up  to 
the  idea  of  furnishing  every  man,  woman,  and 
child  his  or  her  share  of  the  products  of  the 
earth  and  of  the  hand  of  man  in  the  most  sim- 
ple and  economical  way.  And,  if  you  will  ob- 
serve the  country,  cities,  and  towns  through 
which  we  are  passing,  you  will  gain  an  idea  of 
the  results  we  obtain.  Look  at  those  prosper- 
ous farms;  those  comfortable  homes;  those 
splendid  highways,  lined  with  beautiful  trees; 
the  flourishing  cities  and  villages,  and  above  all, 
the  healthy,  happy  and  contented  people,  and 
compare  it  with  your  world,  if  you  will, — bear- 
ing in  mind  that  all  you  see  is  but  a  fair  ex- 
ample of  this  whole  country.  Is  there  any  part 
of  your  world  that  will  compare  with  it? 

' '  We  have  neither  idle  rich  nor  idle  poor.  In 
any  country  the  one  is  just  as  bad  as  the  other. 


244  Beyond  the  Horizon 

Of  course  any  man,  rich  or  poor,  after  he  has 
reached  that  age  in  life  when  he  is  entitled  to 
rest,— after  he  has  performed  his  share, — 
should  no  longer  be  required  to  participate  in 
the  active  affairs  of  life.  Pie  should  be  able  to 
retire  and  rest  upon  his  laurels  in  peace  and 
comfort.  The  last  part  of  life's  journey  should 
be  traveled  with  ease ;  the  pathway  of  life  at 
the  end  should  always  be  the  smoothest. 

"Is  there  anything  more  pleasing  than  to  see 
an  aged  couple,  whose  life 's  work  is  over, — who 
have  lived  together  a  life  of  usefulness, — quiet- 
ly and  peacefully  nearing  the  end  together, 
with  no  troubles  and  worries  to  disturb  their 
declining  days?  In  your  world  that  is  some- 
thing rare  and  uncommon  but  here  it  is  quite 
usual. ' ' 

We  were  now  approaching  the  city  where,  at 
Creon's  suggestion,  we  were  to  remain  for  a 
few  days  before  proceeding  to  our  ultimate  des- 
tination,— the  Capital  City  and  industrial  cen- 
tre of  the  country. 

"About  ten  miles  from  this  place,"  observed 
Creon,  as  we  were  entering  the  city,  "is  lo- 
cated the  institution  for  the  care  of  the  feeble- 
minded and  those  whom  your  people  call  crim- 
inals, and  I  am  particularly  anxious  for  you  to 
visit  that  institution,  for  I  wish  you  fully  to 
understand  our  methods  of  caring  for  crim- 
inals. 

"People  are  not  perfect  in  this  world  and 


A  Railroad  System.  245 

there  are  some  who  need  special  care  and  at- 
tention,— not  punishment.  We  do  not  make 
criminals  and  then  punish  them  for  being 
such. ' ' 

Hallie  decided  that  she  would  not  stop  over 
with  us,  as  she  felt  that  she  should  return  to 
her  school.  Besides,  she  informed  us  that  there 
was  soon  to  be  a  golf  tournament  in  which  she 
was  to  take  part,  and  that  she  desired  to  resume 
her  practice  and  be  ready  for  the  contest.  One 
of  the  wonderful  things  that  I  observed  while 
among  those  people  was  the  way  in  which  they 
combined  their  amusements  with  their  duties. 
With  them  it  was  neither  all  work  and  no  play, 
nor  all  play  and  no  work.  There  was  always 
a  happy  combination  of  the  two, — with  the 
result  that  they  seemed  to  take  as  much  interest 
in  their  work,  and  exhibited  as  much  enthusi- 
asm about  it  as  they  did  in  regard  to  their 
amusements.  Of  course  the  reason  for  this  was 
because  with  their  short  hours  of  labor,  their 
work  did  not  become  irksome,  but  was,  rather, 
an  interesting  diversion. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

TREATMENT,    NOT    PUNISHMENT 

We  remained  in  the  city  last  mentioned  for 
several  days,  and  I  was  shown  many  things  to 
command  comment,  but  I  will  only  mention  the 
place  spoken  of  by  Creon  as  the  institution  for 
the  care  of  criminals  and  the  feeble-minded,  in 
which  I  became  very  much  interested. 

The  method  of  caring  for  the  unfortunate  in- 
mates of  that  institution  was  unlike  anything 
of  the  kind  I  had  ever  before  seen.  There  were 
no  walls  of  masonary,  with  guards  on  the  top, 
armed  with  weapons  of  death.  There  was  no 
attempt  to  control  either  by  force  or  fear,  no 
degrading  suits  of  stripes,  no  lock  step,  no 
closely  cropped  hair,  no  solitary  confinement, 
and  no  bread-and-water  diet.  All  the  inmates 
were  treated  as  if  they  wTere  men, — human 
beings. 

A  large  farm,  connected  with  the  institution, 
furnished  occupation  for  many,  and  others 
were  employed  in  a  manufacturing  plant, — 
also  a  part  of  the  institution.  As  a  rule  the 
feeble-minded  were  kept  separate  from  the 
other  unfortunates,  and  the  women  were  in  a 

246 


Treatment,  Not  Punishment  247 

building  by  themselves.  The  hours  of  labor 
to  be  performed  were  the  same  as  required  in 
that  world  of  every  one  doing  the  same  kind 
of  work.  The  buildings  were  well  ventilated 
and  well  lighted,  with  none  of  the  features  of 
a  prison,  such  as  there  are  in  my  country. 
Cells  with  barred  and  grated  doors  there  were 
none,  but,  instead,  each  inmate  had  a  comfort- 
able and  well-furnished  room.  There  was  not 
about  the  place  any  clanking  of  chains  and 
clang  of  iron  doors,  no  rattling  of  bolts  and 
bars. 

The  health,  morals,  and  comfort  of  every  one 
were  carefully  looked  after.  It  was  a  place 
devoted  to  teaching,  guiding,  and  directing;  a 
place  where  men  were  made  better  and  not 
worse, — not  humiliated,  degraded,  and  bru- 
talized. 

The  inmates  were  not  forbidden  to  speak  to 
one  another ;  not  obliged  to  remain  silent  when 
with  their  fellow-men  by  day,  and  at  night  be 
confined  in  an  iron  cell,  gloomy  and  alone, — 
there  to  become  sullen  and  morose;  to  think 
and  brood  on  the  wrongs  and  injustices  inflicted 
upon  them;  to  feel  that  the  hand  of  man  was 
raised  against  them ;  that  they  are  outcasts  and 
forbidden  even  the  society  of  those  as  unfor- 
tunate as  themselves. 

The  inmates,  when  not  performing  the  duties 
required  of  them,  were,  within  certain  pre- 
scribed limits,  free  to  go  and  come  as  they 


248  Beyond  the  Horizon 

pleased.  So  long  as  they  performed  the  light 
duties  required  of  them  and  conformed  to  the 
rules  and  regulations  of  the  institution,  they 
were  well  fed,  well  clothed,  well  provided  for 
in  every  way,  and  made  generally  comfortable. 
They  were  treated  with  consideration  at  all 
times;  with  some  restraint,  of  course,  but, 
nevertheless,  they  were  recognized  as  human 
beings  and  treated  as  such. 

As  there  were  neither  guards  nor  walls, 
neither  locks  nor  bolts,  it  appeared  to  me  that 
there  was  nothing  to  prevent  the  inmates  from 
leaving  the  place  at  any  time  and  I  so  expressed 
myself  to  Creon. 

'Yes,"  he  replied,  "there  is  nothing  to  pre- 
vent them  from  going  away.  But  what  would 
they  do  if  they  should  leave?  They  would  not 
have  any  metal  check,  consequently  could  not 
procure  anything  to  eat,  a  place  to  sleep,  or 
any  of  the  necessities  of  life.  Here  is  the  only 
place  in  this  world  where  they  can  live.  No  one 
could  or  would  give  them  anything.  When  they 
arrive  here  their  checks  are  taken  from  them, 
and  are  not  returned  until  they  are  discharged. 
Without  their  checks,  there  is  no  way  for  them 
to  procure  either  food  or  shelter.  They  all 
realize  this,  and  it  is  unusual  for  one  of  them  to 
try  the  experiment.  Having  always  lived  under 
our  system,  they  fully  realize  their  situation 
and  how  useless  it  would  be  to  attempt  to  travel 
about  the  country  without  their  checks. 


Treatment,  Not  Punishment  249 

"To  take  away  from  a  person  in  this  world 
his  or  her  check  means  more  to  that  person 
than  it  would  to  take  away  from  a  millionaire 
in  your  world  every  dollar  he  possessed.  I  am 
informed  that  many  break  down  entirely  when 
they  are  obliged  to  give  them  up.  They  realize 
that  they  are  no  longer  free;  that  they  cannot 
live  with  their  fellow-men  and  enjoy  the  free- 
dom and  pleasures  that  others  have.  Yet,  my 
observations  in  your  world  lead  me  to  believe 
that  these  inmates  live  better  and  have  more  of 
the  comforts  of  life  than  are  enjoyed  by  more 
than  two-thirds  of  your  people. 

' '  The  families  of  these  people, — the  wife  and 
children, — are  not  left  without  any  means  of 
support  and  required  to  get  along  as  best  they 
can.  The  innocent  are  not  made  to  suffer  more 
than  the  guilty." 

"What  constitutes  your  code  of  crime1?"  I 
inquired.  "I  can  very  readily  see  that  your 
criminal  code,  as  well  as  the  offenses  against 
the  law  must  be  very  different  from  what  they 
are  in  my  country.  There  not  being  any  owner- 
ship of  property,  there  cannot  be  any  theft. 
Naturally,  there  are  no  burglaries,  or  robberies, 
or  crimes  of  that  nature.  The  conditions  that 
produce  crime  are  here  eliminated.  There  is 
no  money  nor  any  need  of  it.  For  gain  men 
cannot  steal,  lie,  cheat,  and  defraud.  Poverty, 
idleness,  and  want, — the  great  producers  of 
crime, — you  do  not  have.    The  training  and  en- 


250  Beyond  the  Horizon 

vironment  of  your  people  are  such  that  the 
excessive  use  of  intoxicants,  I  believe,  is  almost 
unknown.  I  wonder  that  there  are  any  crim- 
inals,— that  there  are  any  institutions  of  this 
kind." 

''All  that  you  have  said,"  he  replied,  "is 
very  true.  But  the  people  of  this  world  are 
endowed  with  passions  the  same  as  they  are 
in  yours.  Naturally,  under  the  social  and  in- 
dustrial conditions  here,  men  of  intense  pas- 
sions are  not  so  apt  to  lose  their  self-control 
as  they  are  under  the  conditions  existing  in 
your  world.  Our  people  are  not  nervous,  irri- 
table, and  easily  excited.  Then  there  cannot  be 
any  quarrels  over  property  ownership.  With- 
out money  there  are  no  games  of  chance  to 
cause  anger.  There  are  no  libidinous  resorts 
and  no  drunken  brawls.  Yet  there  are  men 
here  who,  not  being  able  to  control  their  pas- 
sions, must  themselves  be  controlled. 

"We  do  not  allow  violence,  idleness,  or 
drunkenness.  If  any  person  intentionally  com- 
mits an  act  of  violence  upon  another,  or  persists 
in  not  doing  his  or  her  share,  or  becomes  ad- 
dicted to  the  excessive  use  of  intoxicants,  such 
person  is  committed  to  this  institution.  But 
those  who  are  so  committed  are  not  looked  upon 
as  criminals, — condemned,  berated  and  pun- 
ished. They  are  looked  upon  with  pity,  much 
the  same  as  your  people  consider  the  insane. 

"Those  whom  your  people  call  'criminals,' 


Treatment,  Not  Punishment  251 

are  either  criminals  by  nature, — born  crim- 
inals,— or  are  made  such  by  reason  of  your  so- 
cial condition;  by  environment,  or  circum- 
stances. If  they  are  born  criminals  they  are  no 
more  responsible  for  their  criminal  acts  than 
are  the  mentally  deranged  for  their  insane  acts. 
If  they  are  made  criminals  by  their  environ- 
ment or  circumstances,  brought  about  by  your 
social  condition,  why  should  society  condemn 
and  punish  them  for  that  which  it  is  responsible 
for  producing? 

"We  have  very  few  of  those  whom  you  call 
criminals.  With  all  of  our  millions  of  people 
we  have  fewer  criminals  and  insane  altogether 
than  you  have  in  any  one  of  your  smaller  states. 
That  convinces  me  that  the  great  number  of 
criminals  and  insane  people  in  your  world  is 
largely  due  to  your  social  and  industrial  sys- 
tem. It  can  not  be  accounted  for  in  any  other 
way.  Yet  your  people  continue  that  system,— 
cherish  it;  a  system  that,  instead  of  making 
mankind  better,  makes  them  worse;  a  system 
that  instead  of  making  so-called  Christians, — 
real  Christians, — hampers  and  prevents  them 
from  being  such.  And,  so  insistent  are  your 
people  in  sustaining  that  system  that  they 
sneer  at  and  abuse  those  who  are  honestly 
striving  to  bring  about  a  change  for  the  better ; 
notwithstanding,  there  is  more  war,  more 
crime,  more  misery  and  wretchedness  in  your 
world  to-day  than  ever  before.    And  why  is  it? 


252  Beyond  the  Horizon 

Can  it  be  that  your  people  are  so  engrossed 
with  the  struggle  for  gold,  or  with  the  problems 
of  life,  that  they  have  no  time  in  which  to  think 
of  other  things'?  If  so,  the  conditions  in  your 
world  are  certainly  deplorable." 

"That  is  a  question  I  have  been  trying  to 
solve  ever  since  I  became  acquainted  with  your 
wonderful  system,"  I  replied.  "After  seeing 
your  people  all  working  together  under  a  sys- 
tem so  simple  and  natural,  and  all  so  prosper- 
ous, happy,  and  carefree  I  have  been  trying  to 
find  the  real  reason  for  the  unnatural  condition 
that  exists  in  my  world.  And  I  must  say  that 
up  to  the  present  time  I  have  not  been  able  to 
solve  the  problem. 

"Your  suggestion  that  the  people,  in  their 
struggle  to  carry  the  burdens  that  they  are 
obliged  to  bear,  do  not  have  the  time  to  think 
and  ponder  over  their  condition,  has  given  to 
me  a  new  idea.  That  may  be,  and  probably  is, 
one  of  the  reasons  why  nothing  is  accomplished. 
It  is  certain  that  if  the  people  would  only  stop 
and  calmly  consider  their  situation  and  then 
consider  how  unnecessary  it  all  is,  they  would 
soon  find  a  remedy." 

"If  they  would  organize  and  study  the  prob- 
lem in  a  rational  way,  it  would  soon  be  solved," 
he  interposed.  ' '  They  would  soon  see  that  war 
and  preparations  for  war  are  wrong,  and  would 
declare  against  it  for  all  time.  They  would 
ascertain  that  the  earth  is  capable  of  produc- 


Treatment,  Not  Punishment  253 

ing  enough  for  all  and  to  spare ;  that  none  who 
are  willing  to  do  need  suffer  for  the  necessities 
of  life;  that  a  few  hours  of  actual  productive 
labor  each  day  performed  by  every  one  would 
be  sufficient  to  produce  plenty  for  the  comfort 
and  happiness  of  men.  A  natural  condition  of 
human  existence,  such  as  you  see  existing  here, 
would  soon  be  wrought  out  of  chaos.  A  won- 
derful change  would  be  accomplished.  True 
Christianity,  the  brotherhood  of  man,  would 
soon  reign  supreme. 

"That  there  is  plenty  in  your  world  for 
every  one  cannot  be  denied,  and  yet,  how  un- 
equally it  is  distributed  among  the  people.  In 
many  instances  they  who  live  in  idleness  and 
produce  nothing  have  the  most  and  best  of 
everything,  while  they  who  work  and  toil  the 
hardest  have  the  least. 

"If  a  thousand  men,  women,  and  children 
were  placed  upon  an  island  and  from  time  to 
time  they  were  furnished  with  everything 
necessary  for  their  comfort  and  enjoyment  as 
needed,  would  not  any  one  visiting  that  island 
a  year  or  a  few  years  thereafter  expect  to  find 
them  all  equally  enjoying  those  things  that  had 
been  so  generously  furnished?  That  would  be 
reasonable  and  natural.  But  if,  instead,  it  was 
found  that  a  few  had  appropriated  the  greater 
part  of  the  things  furnished  for  all,  and  were 
living  thereon  in  luxury  and  idleness,  while 
others    were    suffering   for   want    of    suitable 


254  Beyond  the  Horizon 

shelter,  clothing  and  food,  would  not  that  be 
unreasonable  and  unnatural?  But,  if  it  were 
further  found  that  those  who  were  suffering  for 
the  necessities  of  life  were  required  to  gather 
up  and  bring  to  those  who  were  living  in  lux- 
ury and  idleness  the  things  that  were  furnished 
for  all,  would  not  that  be  inhuman  and  ap- 
palling?" 

"I  must  confess,"  I  replied,  "that  after  be- 
coming familiar  with  your  system  the  condi- 
tions in  my  world,  as  I  contemplate  them,  fill 
me  with  horror  and  dismay.  I  believe  the  con- 
ditions there  existing  cannot  long  continue.  I 
am  certain  the  people  will  not  much  longer  be 
driven  to  war  and  bloodshed ;  that  they  will  cast 
aside  their  burdens,  peaceably  but  firmly,  and 
proclaim  their  rights  as  human  beings;  that  the 
war  there  now  raging  must  end  in  permanent 
peace.  But  let  us  come  back  to  this  institution. 
I  am  anxious  to  learn  who  commits  these  peo- 
ple, how  they  are  sent  here,  and  who  fixes  the 
length  of  time  they  are  to  remain." 

"They  are  not,"  replied  Creon,  "sent  here 
by  judges,  jurors,  or  lawyers.  Those  we  do 
not  have  any  use  for  under  our  system.  The 
commitment  of  these  people  is  looked  after  by 
the  Sub-District  Supervisors. 

"When  a  complaint  is  made  against  a  per- 
son, a  committee  appointed  from  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Sub-District  Supervisors  makes  a 
thorough   investigation.      The   person   against 


Treatment,  Not  Punishment  255 

whom  the  complaint  is  made  is  first  seen  and 
made  acquainted  with  the  charges  and  given 
every  opportunity  to  explain.  If  the  commit- 
tee is  not  satisfied  with  the  explanation  given, 
the  investigation  is  continued  until  the  commit- 
tee is  fully  satisfied  as  to  what  should  be  done. 
During  the  investigation,  the  person  accused  is 
examined  by  expert  physicians  as  to  his  or  her 
mental  condition,  and  if  it  is  finally  decided  that 
the  person  should  be  looked  after,  he  or  she  is 
committed  to  this  institution. 

"  Those  who  are  sent  here  are  not  sentenced 
for  a  term  of  years,  or  for  any  length  of  time ; 
and  they  are  discharged  whenever  it  is  be- 
lieved to  be  for  the  best  interests  of  themselves 
and  the  community.  These  people  are  com- 
mitted to  this  institution  for  treatment, — not 
for  punishment. 

"Iii  that  part  of  this  institution  set  apart  for 
the  feeble-minded  there  are, — as  you  have 
seen, — very  few  inmates.  In  this  world  the 
scarcity  of  feeble-minded, — as  well  as  the  scar- 
city of  criminals, — is  due  to  what  you  call  our 
system.  And  the  great  number  there  are  of 
both  in  your  world  is  largely  due  to  your  sys- 
tem. 

"In  this  world  women  are  not  obliged  to 
overwork,  as  many  thousands  do  in  your  world. 
There  many  are  born  defective  because  their 
mothers  were  obliged  to  toil  long  hours  in 
nerve-wrecking  factories  or  other  places  equal- 


256  Beyond  the  Horizon 

ly  as  bad,  up  to  the  time  of  their  birth;  and, 
not  only  had  they  to  labor  under  such  condi- 
tions but  by  such  toil  were  unable  to  produce 
from  their  labor  enough  to  procure  sufficient 
food  to  provide  proper  nourishment  for  them- 
selves and  the  child  unborn. 

i 'Is  there  any  wonder  that  there  are,  con- 
sidering the  conditions,  vast  numbers  born  into 
your  world  every  year  who  are  deficient  men- 
tally and  physically?  Is  it  surprising  that  they, 
by  reason  of  their  defective  condition,  are  un- 
able to  meet  the  fierce  struggle  for  existence, 
and  become  inmates  of  prisons,  or  the  poor- 
houses? 

"In  this  world  the  mother-to-be  is  relieved 
from  even  performing  the  easy  task  of  doing 
her  share  of  labor.  We  feel  that  she  is  doing 
her  share,  and  doing  it  well,  without  added 
burdens.  With  us  the  unborn  child  is  looked 
after  and  protected.  We  take  an  interest  in  it ; 
fully  realizing  that  a  child  born  into  this  world 
under  favorable  conditions  is  more  likely  to  be 
strong  and  healthy,  mentally  and  physically, 
than  is  one  born  under  unfavorable  conditions. 
We  realize  that  a  healthy  well-balanced  citizen 
is  a  valuable  asset,  while  a  degenerate  is  a 
liability. 

"Then  think  of  the  child:  destined  to  go 
through  life  weak  in  body  and  mind  and  prob- 
ably condemned  for  a  condition  over  which  it 
had  no  control,  and  for  which  it  should  not  be 


Treatment,  Not  Punishment  257 

blamed.  Your  people  seemingly  do  not  feel 
that  they  have  any  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
the  future  citizen.  You  are  all  too  much  taken 
up  with  the  pursuit  of  gold  to  think  of  the  fu- 
ture, or  of  the  hereafter. 

"In  the  matter  of  your  dollars  and  cents 
your  people  would  gain  much  if  they  would 
look  after  and  protect  the  mother-to-be,  and 
thus  prevent  the  bringing  into  your  world  of 
the  criminal-born,  the  feeble-minded,  and  the 
degenerate.  But  the  heedlessness  of  your  peo- 
ple in  that  regard  is  only  on  a  par  with  your 
whole  inhuman  social  and  industrial  system. 

' '  What  can  be  expected  of  a  people  that  train 
their  young  men  to  fight,  kill,  and  destroy  one 
another;  that  maintain  schools  for  that  pur- 
pose and  spend  millions  of  that  yellow  metal 
which  they  all  worship,  in  maintaining  armies 
and  navies;  that  take  pride  in  their  weapons 
of  destruction — weapons  made  for  taking  of 
human  lives,  for  the  destroying  of  homes. 

"What  is  to  be  expected  from  a  people  that 
spend  their  gold  for  guns,  powder,  and  lead, — 
for  munitions  of  war, — when  millions  are  in 
need  of  that  gold,  that  with  it  they  may  be  able 
to  procure  the  bare  necessities  of  life.  A  peo- 
ple who,  if  they  took  any  interest  in  the  un- 
born child,  it  would  be  an  interest  in  its  de- 
velopment as  a  man  of  war;  so  that  it  could 
and  would,  as  soon  as  it  arrived  at  the  fighting 


258  Beyond  the  Horizon 

age,  go  forth  to  kill  and  be  killed, — to  fight  and 
die  for  its  country's  kings  and  rulers. 

"I  am  informed  that  one  of  your  so-called 
enlightened  nations  protects  the  mother-to-be, 
not  on  account  of  any  special  interest  the  gov- 
ernment takes  in  the  mother  or  in  the  child,  ex- 
cept that  if  a  male  it  may  become  a  more  effi- 
cient soldier;  that  it  may  grow  up  to  be  a 
strong  healthy  man  and  thus  be  the  better 
qualified  to  kill  and  destroy  his  fellow-men. 
Not  that  by  reason  of  his  vigor  and  strength 
he  may  become  a  useful  citizen  and  a  help  to 
mankind,  but  that  he  may  be  the  better  able  to 
destroy  homes  and  make  widows  and  or- 
phans,— to  cause  misery  and  woe.  Through 
long  years  of  military  training  and  preparation 
for  war,  the  rulers  of  that  country  have  become 
so  obsessed  with  their  superiority  and  military 
power,  that  they  have  engulfed  your  whole 
world  in  the  most  cruel  and  inhuman  war  that 
was  ever  known. 

"If  all  your  ruling  classes — those  who  control 
your  governments, — would  give  more  attention 
to  making  men  better,  the  lot  of  mankind  would 
be  easier,  and  life  more  worth  the  living.  If 
all  those  who  have  charge  of  the  affairs  of  your 
governments  would  pay  more  attention  to  the 
interests  and  welfare  of  the  whole  people,  there 
would  be  less  bloodshed,  less  crime,  and  less 
poverty  and  want.  And  if  you  had  no  ruling 
classes,  you  would  all  enjoy  greater  freedom 


Treatment,  Not  Punishment  259 

and  be  more  prosperous  and  peaceful.  You 
would  be  free  from  the  burdens  and  horrors  of 
war. 

"Lack  of  government,  lack  of  rulers,  does  not 
mean  chaos,  as  many  of  your  people  contend. 
We  do  not  have  any  government,  according  to 
your  ideas  of  government,  and  no  ruling  classes, 
yet  we  have  a  peaceful  happy  people. 

"Many  of  your  people,  I  find,  contend  that, 
on  account  of  the  perversity  of  the  human  race, 
governments  are  a  necessity;  that  without  the 
strong  hand  of  control,  mankind  would  degen- 
erate; that  civilization  would  retrograde  into 
barbarism.  To  admit  that  argument  as  sound 
is  to  admit  that  the  human  race  is  inferior  to 
the  brute;  that  men  are  but  mere  savages  and 
as  such  must  be  controlled  and  protected  from 
one  another. 

"If  your  forms  of  government  are  necessary 
for  the  protection  of  the  human  race  in  your 
world,  it  is  on  account  of  the  fact  that  your  sys- 
tem has  brought  the  race  to  that  state ;  that  a 
continual  system  based  upon,  greed  and  indi- 
vidualism has  changed  the  natural  instincts  of 
men. 

'The  natural  instincts  of  men  are  good. 
Naturally  men  are  kind,  loving  charitable,  and 
sympathetic.  But  improper  training,  educa- 
tion, and  environment  may  change  all  that;  and 
with  your  people  I  am  afraid  it  has  done  so, 


260  Beyond  the  Horizon 

and  that  it  is  now  necessary  to  bring  them  back 
to  their  natural  condition. 

"In  order  to  bring-  about  that  change  you 
must  eliminate  the  necessity  for  man  to  keep 
up  a  continual  struggle  for  existence.  That  is 
unnecessary  and  is  chiefly  caused  by  your  wars 
and  preparations  for  war,  and  your  many  use* 
less  occupations.  Wars  are  not  only  cruel  and 
inhuman  but  cause  wanton  and  useless  de- 
struction of  life  and  property;  cause  unneces- 
sary misery  and  suffering,  not  only  to  those 
who  are  actually  engaged  but  to  millions  who 
take  no  part,  even  for  generations  after.  And 
your  many  useless  occupations  bring  added 
burdens  to  all;  even  to  those  who  are  engaged 
in  those  occupations. 

"These  are  not  all  the  changes  that  must  be 
made,  but  when  made  they  will  greatly  lighten 
the  burdens  now  borne  by  your  people  and  will 
quickly  lead  to  other  changes  almost  as  neces- 
sary. Your  people  must  and  will  change  to  a 
social  and  industrial  system  that  will  foster  and 
bring  forth  the  natural  instincts  of  man  to  do 
that  which  is  good  instead  of  doing  that  which 
is  bad.  Men  are  not  naturally  cruel,  but  they 
may  be  made  more  cruel  and  inhuman  than  the 
most  savage  of  the  brute  creation. 

' '  Even  the  most  savage  and  cruel  of  animals 
do  not  accumulate  food  which  they  do  not  have 
need  of,  and  retain  it  from  other  animals  that 
need  it.    After  they  have  satisfied  their  hunger, 


Treatment,  Not  Punishment  261 

they  leave  any  surplus  for  other  animals  that 
may  have  need  of  it. 

"But  under  the  system  existing  in  your 
world,  men  not  only  take  what  they  need  but 
strive  to  accumulate  and  retain  all  they  can, 
regardless  of  the  rights  and  necessities  of  other 
men.  Yes !  regardless  of  the  necessities  of 
women  and  helpless  children;  and,  in  the  name 
of  Justice,  their  right  so  to  do  is  protected  and 
enforced  under  your  laws." 

The  sun  was  now  low  in  the  west,  and  the 
beauties  of  a  summer  evening  were  spreading 
over  the  land,  proclaiming  the  close  of  another 
day, — a  day  that  had  given  to  me  new  thoughts 
and  new  ideas  regarding  man's  obligations  to- 
ward the  unfortunate  and  incompetent. 

As  we  turned  our  steps  toward  the  station 
from  out  the  extensive  park  that  surrounded 
the  buildings  of  the  institution,  there  floated  to 
our  ears  the  strains  of  music  from  a  band  made 
up  from  the  inmates.  At  the  close  of  the  day, 
instead  of  listening  to  the  clanking  of  bolts  and 
bars,  the  inmates  of  that  institution  were 
soothed  with  inspiring  music;  instead  of  being 
confined  behind  grated  doors  of  steel  in  a  nar- 
row, unhealthy  cell,  they  were  enjoying  the  cool 
of  the  summer  evening  among  beautiful  trees, 
breathing  health-giving  air  laden  with  the 
fragrance  of  flowers.  They  were  men, — not 
numbers. 


CHAPTER  XV 

A   CITY    AND    ITS   PEOPLE 

After  one  more  stop  we  arrived  at  the  Capi- 
tal City, — just  two  weeks  from  the  day  we  had 
landed  in  the  pocket  of  the  mountains.  Dur- 
ing that  time  my  ideas  of  government,  my  ideas 
of  man's  obligation  to  man,  my  ideas  of  life 
itself,  had  entirely  changed.  I  looked  upon  the 
human  race  in  a  new  light.  I  no  longer  looked 
upon  man  as  a  subject  for  spoliation;  as  an  ob- 
ject from  whom  I  hoped  to  be  able  to  extract 
dollars  and  cents,  though  fearful  that  he  might 
be  successful  in  abstracting  them  from  me  first. 
I  no  longer  looked  upon  men  with  suspicion 
and  distrust.  I  had  absorbed  the  ideas  of  those 
people  and  was  a  changed, — a  new  man.  I  had 
seen  a  whole  human  race  living  together  as 
brothers;  none  striving  to  obtain  more  than 
his  or  her  share. 

It  all  seemed  so  natural, — quite  as  it  should 
be, — that  I  could  hardly  realize  how  any  people 
could  have  it  otherwise.  It  did  not  appear  to 
me  that  there  could  be  any  other  way.  And,  I 
must  say  there  is  no  other  way  under  which 
mankind  can  live  and  fully  realize  all  the  true 

262 


A  City  and  Its  People  263 

enjoyments  of  life ;  no  other  way  under  which 
man  can  do  justice  to  himself  and  to  his  fel- 
low-men. 

I  found  that  city  to  be  indeed  a  Capital  City; 
a  city  beautiful,  and  a  city  of  homes.  It  is  also 
a  great  manufacturing  city,  and  a  city  of 
schools  and  colleges.  It  is  not  only  the  capital 
of  the  country  but  it  is  the  center  of  industry 
and  the  center  of  learning.  It  is  the  largest 
city  in  the  country,  having  a  population  of  over 
two  millions.  It  is  a  city  of  public  buildings 
and  schools,  of  factories  and  homes.  There  is 
no  congested  business  center  with  its  bustling 
crowd  of  agitated  humanity. 

The  public  buildings  and  the  schools  are 
spacious  and  surrounded  with  extensive 
grounds.  The  factories  are  located  amid  trees, 
shrubbery,  and  flowers,  and  in  their  construc- 
tion the  health  and  comfort  of  those  that  work 
therein  are  of  the  first  importance.  And  the 
homes, — those  I  have  described  before.  In  all 
that  world  a  home  is  an  abode  of  beauty  and 
comfort;  a  place  where  dwell  happiness,  con- 
tentment and  tranquillity.  And,  more  than  all 
that,  there  are  homes  for  all  that  want  them. 
No  citizen  of  that  world  is  without  shelter.  Of 
roof -trees  there  are  enough  for  all. 

And  why  should  there  not  be?  The  earth 
produces  the  material  for  their  construction 
and  there  are  men  in  plenty  to  construct  them. 
It  is  only  a  matter  of  gathering  the  material, 


264  Beyond  the  Horizon 

shaping  it,  and  putting  it  in  place.  If  the  men 
who  are  idle  and  those  who  are  engaged  in 
useless  occupations  in  my  world  could  all  be 
employed  in  constructing  homes  from  the  ma- 
terial at  hand,  how  long  would  it  be  before 
there  would  be  enough  homes  for  every  one?  It 
is  very  easy  to  see  that  under  a  proper  system 
none  need  be  in  want, — none  need  be  homeless. 

After  seeing  the  benefits  resulting  to  man- 
kind from  the  system  there  in  operation  I  am 
firmly  of  the  opinion  that  every  one  that  desires 
work  should  have  it,  and  any  one  who  is  able 
to  work  and  will  not,  should  be  made  to  do  so. 
A  proper  amount  of  labor  is  beneficial  to  man, 
but  too  much  of  it  is  harmful  and  makes  men 
old  before  their  time.  One  of  the  unfortunate 
conditions  in  my  world  is  the  unequal  distribu- 
tion of  labor.  Many  there  are  who  are  mere 
drones  of  society, — of  no  use  to  themselves  or 
to  their  fellow-men.  A  life  lived  for  the  mere 
living  is  a  useless  and  worthless  life ;  not  only 
to  the  one  who  lives  it  but  to  society,  country, 
and  all  mankind. 

During  the  time  I  spent  in  that  city  I  en- 
deavored to  learn  all  I  could  regarding  their 
method  of  conducting  the  affairs  of  state, — the 
business  of  the  country.  I  cannot  say  "the 
affairs  of  government,"  as  there  really  is  no 
government.  Neither  can  I  say  "political 
affairs,"  as  there  are  no  politics.  There  are 
no  political  parties  with  leaders  imbued  with 


A  City  and  Its  People  265 

the  idea  that  they  alone  are  capable  of  looking 
after  the  best  interests  of  the  country, — ever 
willing  to  assume  all  of  the  burdens  in  the  in- 
terests of  the  people, — their  own  interests,  of 
course,  being  of  secondary  importance. 

Although  there  are  in  that  world  no  govern- 
ments, from  our  viewpoint  of  what  constitutes 
a  government,  and  no  politics,  politicians,  or 
political  parties,  yet  I  found  those  people  the 
most  patriotic  of  any  that  I  have  ever  known. 
But  their  patriotism  is  that  of  peace,  not  of 
war, — a  patriotism  that  is  not  so  much  of  coun- 
try as  of  humanity;  that  includes  the  welfare 
and  well-being  of  man ;  the  prosperity  and  hap- 
piness of  a  whole  human  race;  a  true  and  un- 
selfish love  for  their  country  and  of  all  man- 
kind, not  a  patriotism  that  leads  to  war  and  the 
destroying  of  human  life,  but  one  that  prevents 
war  and  the  untold  miseries  that  follow  in  its 
wake.  Under  their  system  of  training,  educa- 
tion, and  environment;  under  their  method  of 
conducting  their  affairs,  war  is  impossible,  al- 
though they  have  universal  training,  both  male 
and  female,  it  is  not  a  military  training,  but  a 
training  that  properly  fits  them  for  the  full  en- 
joyment of  a  peaceful  and  useful  life. 

I  was  deeply  interested  in  their  educational 
system,  and  as  Hallie  was  a  teacher  in  one  of 
the  schools  of  the  City  I  had  every  opportunity 
to  get  all  the  information  upon  that  subject  that 
I  desired.     And  here  I  must  mention  the  fact 


266  Beyond  the  Horizon 

that  there  is  no  illiteracy.  Every  one  receives 
a  liberal  and  substantial  education, — an  educa- 
tion that  reaches  beyond  the  ability  to  merely 
read  and  write. 

Both  youth  and  maiden  are  taught  music,  lit- 
erature, and  many  of  the  arts  and  sciences.  To 
know  thyself  is  considered  of  the  greatest  im- 
portance, and  hygiology  constitutes  a  part  of 
the  curriculum  in  every  school.  The  science 
of  health,  its  preservation  and  the  laws  of 
sanitation  are  thought  to  be  as  necessary  to  fit 
one  for  the  various  functions  of  life  as  mathe- 
matics. They  are  taught  to  "know  something 
about  everything  and  everything  about  some- 
thing." There  education  is  a  development  of 
the  body  and  mind ;  it  is  a  physical,  mental  and 
moral  advancement.  Those  people  believe  that 
"a  sound  mind  in  a  sound  body"  makes  the 
ideal  man  and  woman.  Upon  that  theory  the 
child  is  trained  and  educated  from  childhood  to 
manhood  and  womanhood. 

All  are  compelled  to  attend  the  schools,  and 
during  their  school  period  the  youths  and 
maidens  devote  themselves  to  preparing  for 
their  life  work ;  by  furthering  their  mental  and 
physical  development.  As  there  is  only  one 
language  spoken  they  do  not  have  to  spend 
their  time  in  studying  different  languages, — 
either  dead  or  living. 

Those  who  intend  to  become  farmers  take 
special  courses  in  agriculture,  horticulture,  and 


A  City  and  Its  People  267 

arboriculture.  Those  who  are  interested  in  me- 
chanics receive  special  training  in  the  science 
of  the  laws  of  matter,  motion,  and  principles  of 
mechanics.  Girls  as  well  as  boys  receive  spe- 
cial training,  so  that  all  upon  arriving  at  ma- 
turity are  fully  prepared  to  assume  the  duties 
of  life:  all  are  qualified  and  ready  to  perform 
well  their  part. 

I  found  that,  on  account  of  the  care  and  at- 
tention given  to  the  training  and  education  of 
the  young,  the  young  men  and  women  are  well 
developed  mentally  and  physically;  and,  as 
their  habits  are  carefully  looked  after,  their 
morals  are  of  the  best.  The  marvelous  system 
of  the  country  is  thoroughly  instilled  into  their 
minds,  and  they  are  made  to  understand  that 
it  is  the  only  system  under  which  all  mankind 
can  fully  enjoy  life  and  do  justice  to  themselves 
and  to  one  another.  This  whole  wonderful  sys- 
tem is  based  upon  education,  training,  and  en- 
vironment, producing  a  condition  that  must  be 
seen  to  be  fully  appreciated. 

In  visiting  the  schools  and  colleges  I  did  not 
find  the  pupils  demure  and  staid,  but,  instead, 
a  robust,  lively  lot,  full  of  life  and  health. 
When  they  were  at  play,  and  upon  the  streets, 
I  observed  that  there  was  none  of  the  offensive 
and  immoral  language  used  that  is  so  frequent- 
ly heard  upon  the  playgrounds  and  streets  in 
my  world. 

Those  people  realize  that  habit  of  thought, 


268  Beyond  the  Horizon 

speech,  and  mind  and  the  moral  stamina  ac- 
quired by  the  young  are  hard  to  change  and, 
as  a  rule,  will  continue  through  life.  For  that 
reason  they  devote  much  time  and  attention  to 
the  training  and  development  of  the  men  and 
women  of  the  future.  Under  their  system  this 
can  be  done.  Those  people  are  not  wholly  occu- 
pied in  making  a  living  or  in  the  pursuit  of 
gold.  They  have  time  to  devote  to  other 
things. 

In  that  world  there  are  no  pampered  children 
of  the  rich;  no  wretched,  neglected  children  of 
the  poor.  There  all  enter  upon  life's  journey 
under  equal  conditions,  and  while  making  that 
journey  have  the  same  opportunities.  Merit 
and  worth  are  fully  recognized,  and  it  is  con- 
sidered an  honor  to  be  known  as  a  superior 
workman,  a  good  farmer,  or  to  excel  in  any  oc- 
cupation that  a  person  may  be  engaged  in. 
Position  and  honor  are  not  acquired  by  wealth, 
but  by  excellence  of  character,  superior  merit, 
and  virtue. 

As  those  people  are  fond  of  healthful  sports 
and  have  ample  time  to  devote  to  them,  I  found 
that  much  admiration  was  bestowed  upon  those 
who  excel  in  the  popular  sports  and  games, 
amounting,  in  some  instances,  almost  to  hero 
worship. 

The  games  vary  with  the  seasons ;  among  the 
most  popular  are  ball,  golf,  polo,  and  cricket; 
and  the  discussion  of  these  sports  by  the  people 


A  City  and  Its  People  269 

in  their  conversation  and  their  attendance  at  the 
games  indicate  how  generally  they  are  all  in- 
terested. The  papers  devote  a  great  deal  of 
their  space  to  the  games;  and  the  plays  made, 
as  well  as  the  players,  are  keenly  criticized, 
and,  when  warranted,  their  excellence  extolled. 

The  champion  golf  player  of  the  City  was 
one  of  the  workers  in  an  iron  foundry  and  the 
champion  polo  player  a  street  car  motorman. 
I  heard  them  lauded,  and  their  plays  discussed 
with  much  interest  about  the  clubs,  hotels,  and 
public  places.  They  were  the  heroes  of  the 
hour.  I  learned  that  as  the  workers  in  the 
foundry  perform  the  hardest  kind  of  labor  they 
are  only  required  to  work  two  hours  each  day. 
I  also  learned  that  the  shift  in  which  the  golf 
champion  belonged  worked  from  eight  to  ten  in 
the  forenoon,  and  thus  he  had  the  balance  of 
the  day  to  devote  to  his  favorite  game.  The 
motorman,  I  ascertained,  had  a  run  that  re- 
quired him  to  be  on  duty  from  eight  until 
eleven-thirty  in  the  evening,  and  during  the  day 
he  was  a  gentleman  of  leisure,  who  might  de- 
vote his  time  to  the  "millionaire's  game," — as 
polo  is  designated  in  this  world. 

I  had  the  same  opportunities  to  take  a  part 
in  their  sports  and  amusements  as  any  one 
else,  and  after  I  had  been  in  the  city  a  short 
time  and  had  become  somewhat  acquainted,  I 
did  not  hesitate  to  take  advantage  of  the  privi- 
leges. I  confined  myself  principally  to  polo  and 


270  Beyond  the  Horizon 

golf,  although  Hallie  and  I  frequently  attended 
equestrian  dances,  and  at  her  request  I  joined 
a  tennis  club  of  which  she  was  a  member.  We 
also  frequently  rode  and  drove  together,  and 
I  did  not  find  any  difficulty  in  procuring  horses. 

As  the  people  are  very  much  devoted  to  out- 
door amusements,  and,- — when  the  weather  is 
not  inclement, — spend  the  greater  part  of  their 
time  in  the  open,  the  streets  and  parks  of  the 
city  present  a  holiday  appearance,  especially 
since, — on  account  of  the  system,  as  I  have 
before  described,  of  keeping  their  working 
clothes  at  their  place  of  employment,  and  chang- 
ing there,  there  are  no  shabbily  dressed  peo- 
ple about  to  mar  the  gala-day  effect. 

I  made  my  home  with  Creon  and  had  a  desk 
in  his  library,  where  I  worked  my  allotted  hours 
as  his  secretary,  and  soon  felt  that  I  was  almost 
a  member  of  the  family.  My  position  as 
Croon's  secretary  gave  me  unusual  opportuni- 
ties to  investigate  the  social  and  industrial 
systems  of  that  world,  and  with  his  assistance 
and  Hallie 's,  I  progressed  very  rapidly  with 
my  work. 

At  first  it  seemed  strange  to  be  without  money 
and  to  procure  whatever  I  needed  as  though  it 
belonged  to  me.  But  I  soon  became  used  to  the 
changed  conditions,  and  after  that  it  appeared 
to  me  to  be  the  only  rational  way.  And  upon 
returning  to  my  own  world  I  found  it  much 
more  difficult  to  again  employ  our  complicated 


A  City  and  Its  People  271 

money  system  than  it  was  for  me  to  adopt  the 
simple  method  of  Creon's  country. 

The  longer  I  remained  in  that  world  the  more 
I  became  attached  to  those  people  and  their 
systems,  and  I  frequently  found  myself  enter- 
taining the  idea  of  not  returning  to  "The 
Planet  of  Gold."  And  I  am  inclined  to  think 
that  I  would  not  have  done  so  had  it  not  been 
finally  determined  that  I  would  only  remain 
here  for  a  certain  period  and  then  return  to  that 
world  and  become  a  permanent  resident.  That 
was  determined  about  a  month  before  my 
departure,  and  since  that  time  I  have  looked 
upon  that  world  as  my  future  abode. 

The  reason  for  my  determination  to  settle 
in  that  world  and  make  my  future  home  among 
those  people  I  do  not  feel  like  disclosing  at  this 
time,  but  may  conclude  to  do  so  later. 

I  had  become  very  much  attached  to  those 
people,  of  course.  Then  there  was  the  peace 
and  comfort,  the  joy  and  charm  of  living,  as 
compared  with  the  turmoil,  strife,  and 
wretchedness  in  the  world  I  had  left.  I  realized 
that  the  contrast  between  the  two  would  be  so 
great  that  I  could  never  again  be  contented  in 
my  world,  even  with  my  wealth,  which  would 
protect  me  from  the  cares  and  worries  that  fall 
to  the  lot  of  most  persons.  I  felt  that  the 
wretchedness  and  poverty  of  others  that  I  must 
encounter  would  make  me  miserable,  even 
though  I  did  not  have  to  share  them  myself. 


272  Beyond  the  Horizon 

But  there  was  a  more  potent  reason.  I  had 
found  a  new  interest  in  that  world, — a  new 
charm  that  drew  me  to  it  as  nothing  else  could. 

The  members  of  almost  every  craft  as  well 
as  the  workers  in  many  of  the  factories  have 
their  clubs,  with  spacious  buildings  well,  even 
luxuriously,  furnished.  I  was  a  frequent  visitor 
at  many  of  those  clubs,  and  in  equipment  and 
comfort  found  them  equal  to  the  club  buildings 
of  the  well-to-do  in  the  cities  of  my  world.  The 
people,  too,  that  congregate  there  proved  to  be 
as  well  mannered  and  as  well  dressed  as  those 
that  patronize  the  clubs  of  my  country,  and,  I 
must  confess,  were  as  a  rule  more  intelligent, 
social,  and  interesting. 

I  realize  that  it  will  be  hard  for  my  readers 
to  believe  that  laborers, — men  who  work  with 
their  hands, — have  the  leisure  and  means  to  loi- 
ter in  well-appointed  club  rooms  and  during  a 
portion  of  their  time  play  at  being  gentlemen 
of  leisure.  But  if  these  readers  will  consider 
the  simple  proposition  that  there  in  that  world 
labor  instead  of  capital  represents, — is,  in  fact, 
— wealth,  it  will  then  be  easy  to  comprehend. 

I  learned  that  while  libraries,  theaters,  and 
schools, — as  well  as  the  parks,  polo  grounds, 
golf  links,  and  all  other  places  of  public  amuse- 
ment,— are  maintained  by,  and  are  under  the 
control  of,  the  system,  the  clubs  of  which  I 
speak,  to  a  certain  extent,  are  not.  The  theaters, 
parks,  and  all  places  of  public  amusement  are 


A  City  and  Its  People  273 

free  to  all,  but  the  clubs, — like  the  homes, — are 
for  the  use  of  the  members  and  their  friends. 

In  my  world  those  that  are  members  of  so- 
cial clubs  obtain  and  maintain  their  member- 
ship by  the  payment  in  money  of  fees  and  dues, 
but  there  membership  is  obtained  and  main- 
tained by  labor, — extra  labor. 

For  extra  labor  a  man  or  woman  receives 
credit,  and  up  to  a  certain  limit  extra  labor  can 
usually  be  obtained  by  those  that  wish  it.  This 
credit  can  at  any  time  be  drawn  and  used  as 
desired.  It  may  be  used  for  extra  vacation,  for 
travel,  for  visiting  friends,  or  to  procure  some 
work  of  art  that  pleases  the  fancy.  The  work 
of  art, — representing  so  much  labor,  instead  of 
money, — can  be  procured  by  exchanging  labor 
for  it. 

The  home  and  all  the  necessities  and  com- 
forts of  life  are  guaranteed  to  all  who  perform 
their  share,  but  beyond  that,  the  added  luxuries 
are  procured  by  exchange  of  labor.  There  is 
a  department  of  the  Sub-District  Supervisors 
that  looks  after  that  feature  of  the  system. 

Creon  informs  me  that  for  a  number  of  years 
after  arriving  at  maturity  the  people  perform 
considerable  extra  labor,  but  as  they  advance  in 
life,  they  perform  less,  not  caring  for  the  ex- 
tras that  can  be  procured  by  it. 

The  government,  or  the  management,  as  I  will 
call  it,  of  the  City, — as  in  case  of  all  other  cities 
there, — is  under  direct  supervision  of  the  Dis- 


274  Beyond  the  Horizon 

trict  Managers.  The  general  supervision,  how- 
ever, is  in  charge  of  a  committee  made  up  of 
men  who, — while  they  once  belonged  to  the 
army  of  workers, — have  been  connected  with 
municipal  work,  and  are  therefore  familiar  with 
municipal  affairs.  There  are  different  depart- 
ments, with  superintendents  in  charge ;  each  de- 
partment having  its  particular  work  to  look 
after. 

Mayors,  councilmen,  grafters,  and  hangers-on 
are  unknown  in  their  city  governments.  There 
are  no  politicians,  rounders,  or  incompetents  to 
be  looked  after  and  taken  care  of;  to  live  and 
thrive  upon  the  citizens.  Neither  are  there 
gambling  places,  dens  of  vice,  nor  saloons  to 
be  looked  after  and  recognized, — restrained  at 
times  and  encouraged  at  others,— to  prey  upon 
mankind  and  to  be  preyed  upon  in  return  by 
politicians. 

"The  incompetent  method  of  governing  and 
conducting  the  affairs  of  cities  in  your  coun- 
try is  truly  deplorable,"  remarked  Creon,  as 
we  were  going  through  the  municipal  building 
of  the  city.  "It  is  a  system  of  spoliation.  As 
a  rule  the  citizens,  tax-payers  and  property 
owners  are  plundered,  swindled  and  robbed  to 
a  degree  almost  beyond  belief — they  are  the 
prey  of  unscrupulous  politicians  and  office-hold- 
ers. 

"In  many  instances  vice  and  crime  are  open- 
ly fostered  and  encouraged,  while  honesty  and 


A  City  and  Its  People  275 

virtue  are  treated  with  contempt  and  scorn. 
The  money  of  the  tax-payers  is  misappropriat- 
ed and  wasted,  embezzled  and  squandered.  The 
affairs  of  your  cities  are  conducted  for  the  bene- 
fit of  those  in  control  and  not  in  the  interest  of 
the  people.  They — the  people — are  not  recog- 
nized or  thought  of,  except  as  objects  to  be 
hoodwinked  and  deceived ;  subjects  for  plunder 
and  pillage. 

' '  That  is  a  condition  that,  in  a  greater  or  less 
degree,  runs  through  your  whole  system  of  gov- 
ernment and  always  will,  just  so  long  as  your 
present  form  of  government  continues.  I  will 
say  that  inefficiency  is  more  prominent  than  ac- 
tual dishonesty,  but  one  is  almost  as  harmful 
and  deplorable  as  the  other. 

"But  what  can  be  expected  when  the  chief 
qualification  of  many  of  those  who  control  your 
affairs, — those  who  hold  office, — is  their  ability 
to  fool  the  people  and  get  votes!  That  I  find 
is  usually  accomplished,  either  through  organ- 
ization, manipulation  of  the  newspapers  or  ex- 
ceptional ability  to  deceive  and  mislead. 

"Your  people  insist  upon  a  government  and 
in  having  men  to  govern  and  control  your  af- 
fairs; but  you  do  not  train  or  educate  them  for 
that  purpose,  and  men  are  placed  in  charge  who 
are  without  experience  or  ability  and  are  there- 
fore incompetent  and  inefficient. 

"In  your  world  men  are  trained  for  war  at 
the  expense  of  the  people,  and  you  insist  upon 


276  Beyond  the  Horizon 

your  professional  men  being  trained  for  their 
professions ;  but  you  elect  men  to  manage  your 
governmental  affairs  who  are  devoid  of  train- 
ing or  experience,  with  the  result  that  your  af- 
fairs of  government  are  in  a  sad  and  calamitous 
condition.    I  may  almost  say  in  a  state  of  chaos. 

"Even  under  your  system  of  waste  and  use- 
less occupations,  the  people  of  your  country 
have  a  total  wealth  of  more  than  one  hundred 
and  forty  billions  of  dollars,  which,  if  equally 
distributed  would  give  something  like  fourteen 
hundred  dollars  to  every  man,  woman,  and  child 
in  your  country.  And  yet  there  are  thousands 
who  are  in  want,  suffering  for  food  and  cloth- 
ing, while  the  few  are  rich  beyond  the  dream  of 
avarice. 

' '  Should  the  people  of  your  world  require  any 
further  proof  of  what  they  should  do?  Does  it 
not  show  that  they  should  throw  aside  their 
forms  of  government  that  have  proven  to  be  so 
pernicious  and  useless  and  adopt  a  rational  sys- 
tem, a  system  which  will  provide  for  all  and  not 
make  a  few  millionaires  and  innumerable  pau- 
pers? They  must  adopt  a  system  of  philan- 
thropy, of  humanitarianism.  They  must  devise 
a  system  whereby  every  man  and  woman  shall 
enjoy  the  fruit  of  his  or  her  labor,  and  pre- 
vent one  greedy  being  from  monopolizing  the 
toil  and  making  miserable  the  lives  of  thou- 
sands. 

' '  The  people  of  your  country  take  great  pride 


A  City  and  Its  People  277 

in  the  wealth  of  your  nation,  and  boast  vainglo- 
riously  of  how  it  has  multiplied  more  than  one 
hundred-and-twenty-five-fold  since  the  organi- 
zation of  your  present  form  of  government; 
but  what  have  they  to  say  of  the  way  in  which 
it  is  distributed  among  your  people?  It  is  not 
the  amount  of  wealth  that  indicates  prosperity, 
it  is  the  way  in  which  it  is  apportioned  among 
the  people  that  tells  the  tale. 

"Your  cities,  your  states,  and  your  national 
government  are  all  loaded  down  with  debts, 
upon  which  your  people  are  paying  interest.  It 
is  rare  to  find  a  town,  city,  or  county  that  is 
not  burdened  with  debts;  and  your  states  and 
national  government  are  in  even  a  worse  condi- 
tion. And  the  indebtedness  continues  to  accu- 
mulate. No  one  ever  stops  to  think  of  the  day 
of  reckoning;  and  what  the  end  will  be  is  be- 
yond the  prescience  of  man. 

"Under  our  system  there  is  no  graft,  there 
are  no  politicians,  no  office-holders,  no  incompe- 
tents, no  debts,  no  interest,  no  taxes,  and  no  ex- 
cessive burdens.  Our  cities  are  clean,  sanitary 
and  beautiful, — places  in  which  it  is  a  pleasure 
to  live, — to  have  a  home. 

"The  street  railways,  electric  systems,  tele- 
phone service,  as  well  as  the  water  works  and 
sewer  system,  are  considered  a  part  of  the  mu- 
nicipality, and  are  looked  after  and  controlled 
by  the  District  Managers.  They  are  almost  as 
necessary  as  the   streets   and   sidewalks,   and 


278  Beyond  the  Horizon 

should  therefore  receive  the  same  consideration 
and  attention." 

In  our  inspection  of  the  municipal  building, 
I  noticed  that  all  were  attentive  to  the  duties 
they  were  engaged  in  performing.  Those  that 
were  at  work  in  the  various  departments  did 
not  appear  to  be  working  with  the  idea  that 
they  had  a  pull  and  could  hold  down  the  job 
as  long  as  their  pull  lasted,  regardless  of  their 
incompetency  or  inefficiency. 

I  spent  considerable  time  in  the  Capitol  build- 
ings, as  I  will  call  them, — the  buildings  used  for 
transacting  the  general  affairs  of  the  country. 
In  my  investigation  of  how  those  affairs  were 
conducted  I  found  that  neither  the  Grand  Coun- 
cil, District  Managers,  or  the  Sub-District  Su- 
pervisors pass  any  laws,  by-laws,  or  ordinances. 
When  they  meet  as  a  body  they  listen  to  re- 
ports of  committees,  discuss  matters  generally, 
appoint  committees,  either  with  power  to  act 
or  with  instructions  to  investigate  and  report. 
There  is  no  bombast,  no  "playing  to  the  gal- 
leries," no  seeking  for  votes,  and  no  constitu- 
ents to  be  looked  after  and  provided  for. 

The  affairs  of  government, — as  I  will  call  it, 
— are  conducted  in  a  systematic  and  business- 
like manner  by  men  of  experience, — men  whose 
minds  are  not  occupied  with  the  problem  of  re- 
election but  bent  on  the  business  in  hand.  In 
all  of  their  official  acts  they  are  not  concerned 
with  the  thought  of  how  a  constituency  will  view 


A  City  and  Its  People  279 

their  acts,  and  what  effect  those  acts  may  have 
upon  their  political  advancement, — not  work- 
ing for  a  political  party  instead  of  for  the  coun- 
try. 

They  are  not  agreeing  to  support  this  or  that 
measure,  regardless  of  its  merits,  in  order  to 
secure  the  support  of  others  on  some  pet  meas- 
ure that  they  may  have  in  view;  not  trying 
to  fool  the  people  that  they  may  thus  keep  them- 
selves in  office.  They  are  not  wasting  their 
time  in  useless  talk  against  the  party  measures 
of  their  political  opponents,  while  the  business 
affairs  of  the  country  suffer  and  are  at  a  stand- 
still. They  give  their  attention  solely  to  the 
business  affairs  of  the  country;  they  work  for 
the  whole  people  and  for  the  system, — in  other 
words,  they  do  not  put  in  their  time  in  ' '  playing 
politics." 

There  the  system  is  simple  but  firm  and  en- 
during, and  all  that  is  necessary  is  to  carry  on 
and  continue  that  system, — a  system  that  gives 
equal  rights  to  all,  a  system  that  fosters  pa- 
triotism,— but  not  false  patriotism. 

The  more  familiar  I  became  with  this  ideal 
method  of  conducting  the  affairs  of  government, 
the  more  cumbersome  and  absurd  did  our 
method  appear.  And  yet,  it  is  no  more  absurd 
and  nonsensical  than  our  whole  industrial  and 
social  system.  A  system  that  tends  to  destroy 
homes,  happiness,  and  peace;  religion,  honor 
and  virtue;  that  makes  poverty  where  there 


280  Beyond  the  Horizon 

should  be  prosperity;  tears  where  there  should 
be  smiles;  sickness  and  death  where  there 
should  be  life  and  health;  want  where  there 
should  be  plenty.  A  system  that  retards  the 
human  race, — morally,  mentally  and  physically, 
— that  perverts  mankind. 

Being  the  only  person  from  my  world  who 
has  ever  seen  a  rational  system  in  operation; 
who  has  mingled  with  a  people  that  are  living 
in  a  natural  common-sense  way;  each  enjoying 
life  at  its  best,  and  willing  and  anxious  that 
all  others  should  do  likewise,  I  am  better  able 
to  see  the  incongruities  of  our  method  than  are 
others  who  have  not  had  the  same  experience. 
I  can  more  readily  realize  the  unfitness  of  things 
and  understand  how  unnecessary  it  all  is. 

An  immense  water  power,  fully  developed 
and  utilized,  has  made  that  a  great  manufactur- 
ing city,  but  not  a  smoky,  sooty,  and  unhealthy 
one.  The  manufacturing  plants  are  all  oper- 
ated by  electricity,  generated  from  the  power 
plants,  and  the  same  system  is  in  operation  that 
I  have  heretofore  described.  There  are  mills 
and  factories  for  the  manufacture  of  nearly 
everything  for  the  use  of  mankind ;  although  the 
principal  industries  are  the  manufacturing  of 
woolen  and  cotton  goods,  boots  and  shoes,  and 
flour. 

I  visited  many  of  the  different  plants  and 
found  them  all,  without  exception,  clean  and 
healthful,  and  desirable  places  in  which  to  work. 


A  City  and  Its  People  281 

They  are  equipped  with  the  best  of  improved 
machinery,  and  in  their  operation  the  health, 
comfort  and  safety  of  the  operators  are  consid- 
ered and  carefully  looked  after.  The  people 
who  work  in  those  factories  are  not  working 
to  produce  dividends  for  stockholders,  regard- 
less of  everything  else;  not  toiling  and  risking 
life  and  limb  for  a  wage  hardly  sufficient  to 
produce  the  bare  necessities  of  life.  They  are 
not  working  for  wealth  in  which  they  can  have 
no  share ;  they  are  not  required  to  labor  long 
hours  in  unclean,  ill-ventilated,  and  unhealthy 
workrooms, — in  order  that  capital  may  be  re- 
warded,— under  an  industrial  system  that  con- 
siders capital  to  be  of  more  importance  than 
human  life, — the  lives  of  those  who  toil. 

They  are  not  working  under  a  board  of  direc- 
tors that  is  constantly  planning  to  produce  more 
at  a  lesser  cost;  to  lower  the  cost  of  produc- 
tion, no  matter  how,  in  order  that  capital  may 
enjoy  a  greater  profit.  They  are  not  working 
under  a  system  that  plans  to  reduce  the  cost  of 
production  at  the  expense  of  labor  and  thus 
enable  the  owners  of  capital  more  fully  to  enjoy 
their  palatial  homes,  their  automobiles,  their 
lackeys,  and  to  live,  in  idleness  and  luxury. 
They  are  not  helping  to  maintain  a  system  un- 
der which  those  that  labor  and  support  capital 
receive  hardly  enough  to  sustain  life,  while  cap- 
ital thrives  and  prospers, — a  system  of  labor 
with  poverty,  of  idleness  with  wealth. 


282  Beyond  the  Horizon 

"That  capital  is  better  protected  than  is  la- 
bor under  the  laws  of  your  country  cannot  be 
gainsaid,"  declared  Creon  in  discussing  this 
subject.  "Capital  may  work  its  employees  in 
unhealthy  workrooms,  around  unprotected,  dan- 
gerous machinery,  and  thereby  destroy  health; 
may  maim  and  cripple  and  even  destroy  human 
life,  without  punishment  and  almost  without 
censure ;  but  when  labor  destroys  capital,  labor 
is  invariably  punished, — it  is  made  to  feel  the 
strong  arm  of  the  law." 

It  would  be  useless  for  me  to  again  describe 
the  system  of  distributing  the  food  supply  to 
the  people.  It  is  the  same  simple  plan  in  a  city 
of  that  size  as  it  is  in  the  smaller  towns  and 
cities.  Every  one  has  his  or  her  part  to  per- 
form and  knows  how  and  when  to  perform  it. 
The  necessities  of  life  are  not  stored  and  re- 
tained from  the  people  until  a  profit  may  be 
made  by  an  advance  in  price.  There  is  not 
food  in  abundance  for  those  that  have  the  means 
with  which  to  procure  it,  and  none  for  those 
that  are  not  possessed  of  that  magic  thing  called 
money. 

Money!  That  word  no  longer  appeals  to  me 
as  the  one  thing  needful  for  human  happiness. 
Such  thoughts  as  possessed  me  while  Creon 
and  I  were  on  our  way  down  the  mountain  after 
our  flight  through  space,  I  no  longer  entertain. 
I  have  learned  to  look  upon  money  as  worse 
than  a  useless  thing.    I  can  now  see  that,  instead 


A  City  and  Its  People  283 

of  making  men  happy,  it  is  the  cause  of  all  their 
wretchedness.  It  is  the  great  producer  of  mis- 
ery and  crime, — the  incentive  to  man's  inhu- 
manity to  man.  It  destroys  manhood  and  wom- 
anhood; it  wrecks  families  and  homes;  it  re- 
tards the  progress  and  advancement  of  the  hu- 
man race:  it  has  been  well  designated  as  "the 
root  of  all  evil." 


CHAPTER  XVI 

FOR    MAN"    AND    HUMANITY 

During  the  time  I  remained  in  that  world, 
summer  faded  into  autumn,  autumn  into  winter, 
and  when  I  left,  spring,  with  its  freshness  and 
glory,  was  upon  the  land.  The  trees  were  tak- 
ing on  their  hues  of  green,  the  flowers  were 
blooming,  the  birds  singing,  and  all  nature  was 
as  joyous  and  full  of  life  as  were  the  wonderful 
people  of  that  wonderful  country. 

My  principal  duty  as  Creon's  secretary  was 
to  acquire  information  and  gather  material  for 
this  book.  That  work  was  drawing  to  a  close, 
and  the  time  was  fast  approaching  when  I  was 
in  duty  bound  to  return  to  the  "Planet  of  Gold" 
and  proclaim  all  that  I  had  seen;  to  show  to 
those  wretched  beings  who  are  struggling  under 
the  burdens  of  a  miserable  and  needless  method 
of  existence  that  there  is  a  system  under  which 
mankind  can  live  in  peace  and  plenty ;  to  bring 
a  ray  of  hope  to  those  who  are  now  without 
hope, — who  have  nothing  to  anticipate  but  mis- 
ery and  penury. 

There  should  not  be  anything  to  prevent  the 
people  of  my  world  from  adopting  a  system 

284 


For  Man  and  Humanity  285 

similar  to  that  which  I  found  there  in  perfect 
operation, — a  system  that  will  do  away  with 
war  and  all  causes  for  war,  with  greed  and  ail 
causes  for  greed. 

Why  cannot  as  much  be  done  in  times  of 
peace  for  the  uplifting  of  man  as  is  done  in 
times  of  war  for  his  destruction? 

To  maintain  war,  those  in  control  of  govern- 
ments do  not  hesitate  to  confiscate  property,  to 
operate  railroads,  and  factories,  to  control  all 
food  supplies,  in  short,  to  do  anything  that 
they  may  consider  necessary  for  the  carrying 
on  of  their  awful  work  of  destruction.  But  in 
times  of  peace  they  would  view  with  horror 
any  attempt  to  do  those  things  for  the  better- 
ment of  mankind  and  in  the  interests  of  human- 
ity. If  the  rulers  of  our  governments  would 
take  the  same  interest  in  the  upbuilding  of  the 
human  race  that  they  do  in  maintaining  and 
extending  the  governments,  we  would  have 
more  peace  and  less  war,  more  happiness  and 
less  misery. 

In  war  system  is  everything;  and  for  the  pur- 
poses of  war  a  system  is  maintained  that  is  al- 
most perfect  in  its  operations ;  a  system  harsh, 
cruel,  and  unjust,  but  effectual  for  the  pur- 
poses; a  system  that  fills  the  land  with  un- 
marked graves ;  that  buries  men  in  trenches 
with  dead  horses;  that  causes  men,  wounded 
and  helpless,  to  lie  neglected  and  uncared  for 
amid  the  dead  and  dying,  to  writhe,  shriek,  and 


286  Beyond  the  Horizon 

mourn  in  their  agony  and  despair ;  there  to  die 
for  the  want  of  care  and  attention, — for  the 
touch  of  a  helping  hand. 

I  know  that  in  my  world  there  has  never  been 
a  greater  need  of  a  change  than  at  the  present 
time.  There  never  was  more  poverty,  never 
more  wealth,  and  that  wealth  was  never  more 
unequally  distributed.  There  is  in  my  world  to- 
day more  war,  bloodshed,  and  crime  than  were 
ever  before  known.  In  nearly  all  of  our  so- 
called  civilized  nations,  the  tramp  of  marching 
armies  is  constant,  and  the  boom  of  cannon  is 
heard  upon  every  sea.  More  men  are  to-day 
engaged  in  the  killing  and  destroying  of  one 
another  than  at  any  time  known  in  history.  A 
whole  world  has  gone  war  mad. 

And  why  is  it?  Have  the  people  retrograded 
into  barbarism ;  do  they  take  delight  in  the  shed- 
ding of  blood,  in  the  taking  of  life,  in  the  de- 
struction of  homes?  Have  the  people  of  my 
world  reached  that  state  when  they  prefer  war 
to  peace? 

That  cannot  be.  It  is  because  under  the  plan 
of  government  that  has  prevailed  with  some  of 
our  nations,  the  people  have  had  no  voice  in  the 
affairs  of  government, — in  the  things  in  which 
they  are  the  most  vitally  concerned.  It  is  be- 
cause a  few  have  assumed  control  of  the  many, 
and  the  people  are  driven  to  the  shambles  as 
sheep  to  the  slaughter,  with  no  more  to  say  re- 
garding their  fate.    It  is  on  account  of  a  system 


For  Man  and  Humanity  287 

of  wrong  training,  wrong  education,  wrong  en- 
vironment ;  a  system  based  upon  nationalism  in- 
stead of  internationalism. 

' '  Now  is  the  time, ' '  observed  Creon  in  speak- 
ing upon  this  subject,  "for  the  people  of  your 
world  to  act.  With  a  large  percentage  of  its 
inhabitants  engaged  in  a  most  cruel  war, — a 
percentage  greater  than  ever  before  so  em- 
ployed in  the  history  of  your  world, — it  would 
seem  as  though  the  people  would  realize  that 
your  forms  of  government  have  proven  a  com- 
plete failure  and  should  be  cast  aside  as  worth- 
less and  as  a  menace  to  the  human  race.  There 
never  was  a  time  when  a  change  was  more 
needed  than  now.  Your  people,  as  a  whole, 
were  never  in  a  more  deplorable  condition  than 
they  are  at  the  present  time.  Millions  who  are 
lovers  of  peace  are  forced  to  take  up  arms  and 
fight  their  fellow-men ;  to  fight,  kill,  and  destroy 
men  against  whom  they  have  no  grievance  and 
for  what  purpose  they  know  not. 

"Want,  that  grim  spectre  of  death,  stalks  si- 
lently throughout  the  land,  pointing  its  bony 
fingers  to  the  feeble  and  infirm,  to  the  child  and 
mother,  and  man  stops  not  to  stay  its  progress. 
Schools  and  churches  are  being  turned  into  hos- 
pitals, and  men  into  demons.  Munitions  of  war 
are  of  the  first  importance,  and  for  gain, — in 
exchange  for  gold, — they  are  being  furnished 
to  the  belligerents  by  the  people  of  neutral  na- 
tions in  order  that  the  work  of  death  and  de- 


288  Beyond  the  Horizon 

struction  may  not  be  stayed,  but  be  continued 
as  long  as  possible.  Furnished,  yes,  with  the 
one  thought  of  the  profits  resulting  therefrom ; 
without  regard  for  the  destruction  of  life,  the 
misery  and  suffering  that  will  be  caused 
thereby. 

''The  forms  of  government  that  have  been 
maintained  for  so  many  years  in  your  world 
have  not  proven  a  success,  but,  instead,  have 
resulted  in  disaster.  They  should  now  end. 
Under  your  forms  of  government,  wars  have 
been  continuous,  one  following  after  the  other 
in  rapid  succession.  Not  only  have  nations 
been  pitted  against  nations  but  within  nations 
there  have  been  civil  strifes.  Revolutions  and 
rebellions,  external  and  internal  discord,  tu- 
mult and  contention  have  run  riot.  Not  only  do 
your  governments  create  wars  and  destroy  life 
and  property  but  they  burden  the  people  with 
debts  and  cause  unnecessary  hardships  and  mis- 
ery. They  are  operated  at  an  enormous  ex- 
pense and  give  little  in  return  but  toil  and  trou- 
ble to  the  people  who  support  them. 

' '  While  your  forms  of  government  have  been 
a  failure,  your  industrial  system  has  wrecked 
mankind.  Under  it  men,— without  pity,  with- 
out sympathy,  and  without  honor ;  who  are  cold, 
grasping  and  greedy;  who  care  not  for  the 
rights  of  others;  whose  minds  are  centered 
upon  the  acquisition  of  gold  (no  matter  how 
they  may  obtain  it,  so  long  as  they  are  able  to 


For  Man  and  Humanity  289 

keep  outside  of  the  walls  of  your  peniten- 
tiaries),— acquire  wealth  and  honor,  and  are 
looked  up  to  as  men  of  worth  and  ability,  while 
those  who  have  a  just  regard  for  the  rights  of 
others ;  who  are  willing  to  live  and  let  live ;  who 
believe  in  the  brotherhood  of  man,  and  endeavor 
to  live  useful,  honest  lives,  are  engulfed  in  the 
maelstrom  of  misfortune, — are  made  derelicts 
upon  the  sea  of  life. 

"  Under  it  labor  must  depend  upon  capital  for 
employment, — for  an  opportunity  to  earn  bread. 
He  who  labors  must  look  to  those  who  employ 
labor  for  employment,  and  even  in  your  coun- 
try, which  is  supposed  to  be  the  paradise  of  the 
workingman,  the  government  census  report 
shows  that  his  income  is  only  about  one-half 
enough  to  support  his  family  in  decency. 

' '  How  long  can  such  things  be  continued  and 
be  borne  by  man  ?  How  long  will  mankind  suf- 
fer for  the  necessities  of  life,  when  there  is 
more  than  enough  for  all  ?  How  long  must  men 
who  perform  the  hardest  tasks  receive  the  least 
in  return  for  their  toil?  How  long  must  men 
be  required  to  beg  for  a  chance  to  work,  in  or- 
der that  they  may  sustain  life  and  provide  for 
those  who  are  dependent  upon  them?  How  long 
must  men  of  peace  be  forced  to  fight  and  die 
to  maintain  a  system  of  government  that  brings 
to  them  in  return  hardships,  misery,  and  want? 
How  long  will  the  millions  sweat,  toil,  and  die, 
in  order  that  capital  may  flourish,  grow  great, 


290  Beyond  the  Horizon 

and  mighty,  and  through  its  growth  and  power 
become  stronger,  more  domineering,  and  more 
arrogant1?  How  long  will  they  that  are  in  con- 
trol be  allowed  to  juggle  with  the  rights  of 
men?  How  long  will  labor, — that  which  is  the 
source  of  all  wealth, — be  looked  upon  and 
treated  with  disdain?  How  long  will  the  people 
of  your  world  continue  to  grovel  and  worship 
at  the  shrine  of  Mammon, — that  terrible,  selfish, 
troublesome,  Syrian  god  of  old. 

"I  do  not,"  he  said,  "advocate  an  uprising 
of  the  people,  nor  any  harsh  nor  hasty  action. 
In  order  to  bring  about  a  just  system,  it  is  not 
necessary  that  there  should  be  pillage,  plunder, 
and  bloodshed, — not  necessary  to  cause  mis- 
ery and  suffering.  Those  who  favor  force  and 
violence  are  not  the  true  friends  of  the  people, 
or  of  mankind.  Force  and  violence  go  hand  in 
hand  with  anger  and  hate,  with  death,  destruc- 
tion, and  ruin,  which  are  inimical  to  the  broth- 
erhood of  man. 

"If  all  men  would  refuse  to  fight  and  kill  one 
another  when  ordered  to  do  so  by  their  kings 
and  rulers,  there  could  be  no  wars ;  there  would 
be  universal  peace  among  men.  If  the  people  of 
your  world  would  refuse  longer  to  continue 
your  irrational  system,  and  firmly  but  peace- 
ably declare  for  a  change  to  the  one  that  you 
here  see  in  operation,  it  would  soon  be  brought 
about.  The  supremacy  of  the  brotherhood  of 
man  would  be  complete. 


For  Man  and  Humanity  291 

"Many  of  your  people  who  are  seeking  to 
throw  off  their  burdens  favor  an  uprising  of 
the  people;  they  try  to  excite  anger  and  class 
hatred ;  but  through  that  course  nothing  for  the 
good  of  mankind  can  ever  be  accomplished,  and 
disaster  will  surely  follow.  The  human  heart 
may  be  touched  by  kindness,  sympathy,  and 
love,  but  through  anger,  envy  and  hate,  never. 

"It  is  not  only  the  toilers  that  will  be  bene- 
fited by  the  change,  but  every  one,  with  possibly 
the  exception  of  a  very  few,  who,  by  reason  of 
their  wealth  and  position,  are  in  control.  They 
will  of  course  be  deprived  of  the  power  that 
they  now  wield  and  of  many  of  their  luxuries ; 
they  will  be  held  accountable  to  mankind  as  are 
other  men;  their  gold  and  treasures  will  not 
be  taken  from  them,  but  will  be  made  worthless 
and  useless, — and  of  that  they  cannot  complain. 
They  would  then  be  better  off  than  thousands 
who  now,  under  your  chaotic  conditions, 
through  war,  disaster,  or  unfortunate  specula- 
tion, lose  their  fortunes, — they  would  only  be 
placed  upon  an  equal  footing  with  other  men. 
All  they  would  have  to  do  would  be  to  perform 
their  share, — do  well  their  part;  and  no  man 
can  complain  when  he  is  only  required  to  do 
that. 
"You  can  readily  see  that  the  bringing  about 
of  a  change  from  your  system  to  ours  does  not 
mean  war  and  bloodshed.  Organization  in  times 
of  war  will  accomplish  much  toward  the  de- 


292  Beyond  the  Horizon 

struction  of  mankind.  That  has  been  and  is 
being  demonstrated  in  your  world  to  the  detri- 
ment and  anguish  of  the  human  race.  Why, 
then,  cannot  organization  in  times  of  peace  be 
made  to  help  mankind  and  bring  about  a  condi- 
tion such  as  you  find  existing  in  this  world? 
Why  is  it  not  possible  for  men  to  organize  and 
work  for  that  which  he  knows  to  be  right,  for 
justice  to  all,  for  equal  rights,  for  humanity, 
for  the  brotherhood  of  man,  for  others  as  well 
as  for  himself?  Will  the  people  of  your  world 
undergo  untold  hardships,  risk  life  and  limb  in 
the  destroying  of  one  another,  and  not  be  will- 
ing to  raise  their  voice  nor  give  either  thought 
or  time  to  the  betterment  of  humanity? 

"If  men  in  your  world  can  be  so  educated 
and  trained  that  they  will  sacrifice  their  lives 
for  their  country,  why  can  they  not  be  so  trained 
and  educated  that  they  will  act,  work,  and  strive 
for  a  condition  under  which  such  a  sacrifice 
will  be  unnecessary  ? ' ' 

These  questions  I  was  unable  to  answer. 

When  I  was  in  that  world,  surrounded  with 
all  the  beauties  and  comforts  that  are  enjoyed 
by  every  one;  as  I  mingled  with  those  happy, 
care-free  people,  with  prosperity  and  plenty  on 
every  hand,  I  felt  that  it  would  only  be  neces- 
sary upon  returning  to  my  world  to  tell  the  peo- 
ple of  what  I  had  seen,  of  the  benefits  to  be  en- 
joyed by  all  under  the  system  there  in  opera- 
tion, and  that  the  old  system  of  wealth  and  pov- 


For  Man  and  Humanity  293 

erty,  wrong  and  injustice,  would  be  no  more. 
And,  possessed  with  these  thoughts,  I  returned 
with  Creon  to  the  world  of  my  birth,  hoping  and 
believing  that  my  journey  to  his  planet  would 
prove  to  be  of  as  much  benefit  to  my  fellow- 
men  as  it  has  been  to  me. 

We  were  favored  with  a  couple  of  visits  from 
Mr.  Tweto,  who  was  much  interested  in  my  work 
and  rendered  me  valuable  assistance.  He  was 
very  confident  that  when  I  returned  and  in- 
formed the  people  of  my  world  of  the  conditions 
existing  on  the  planet  I  had  visited  and  of  the 
prosperity  and  happiness  there  enjoyed  by  all, 
that  a  change  would  be  demanded, — one  that 
could  be  no  longer  delayed. 

But  when  I  think  of  the  greed  and  avarice 
that  have  for  so  many  generations  been  instilled 
into  the  minds  of  men,  of  the  desire  to  grasp 
and  retain  all  things  regardless  of  the  needs 
of  others,  of  the  covetous  desires  of  those  that 
have  become  possessed  of  the  lands,  goods,  and 
chattels,  I  am  wont  to  despair.  Still,  when  I 
consider  the  innate  good  that  is  born  in  man, 
the  natural  instinct  to  do  what  is  right,  and  the 
inborn  desire  not  to  do  that  which  is  wrong; 
when  I  reflect  upon  the  kindness  that  always 
has  and  always  will  abide  in  the  human  heart, — 
the  humanity  of  man, — I  still  have  hope;  and, 
like  my  friend  Tweto,  I  have  confidence  that 
there  will  soon  appear  a  day  of  sunshine  to 


294  Beyond  the  Horizon 

those  that  have  become  blinded  by  the  long  con- 
tinued darkness  of  seemingly  endless  night. 

I  hope  that  the  time  will  come  when  the  old 
couple  bowed  down  with  years  will  not  be 
forced  to  leave  the  old  home, — their  household 
goods  sold  that  interest  upon  capital  may  be 
paid,  their  first-born  taken  from  them  in  the 
whirlwind  of  war,  and  the  baby's  cradle  and  the 
little  shoes  sold,  amid  jests  and  unthinking 
laughter,  by  an  officer  of  the  law.  I  hope  that 
the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  war  will  be  no 
more,  when  the  energies  of  men  will  be  exerted 
in  the  interests  of  humanity,  when  commercial- 
ism will  give  way  to  benevolence,  when  poverty 
and  want  will  be  unknown,  when  man's  obliga- 
tions to  man  will  be  recognized  by  all,  when 
the  people  of  my  world  will  no  longer  worship 
at  a  golden  shrine. 

Firm  in  this  belief,  there  are  many  true  men 
and  women  in  this  world  who  are  working  for 
the  good  of  mankind :  who  are  striving  through 
environment  and  by  the  proper  education  and 
training  of  the  people  to  bring  about  a  change 
for  the  betterment  of  man.  This  band  of  broth- 
ers is  constantly  increasing  in  numbers  and  in 
strength;  it  has,  indeed,  assumed  the  propor- 
tions of  a  vast  army  working  in  the  interests  of 
peace.  Many  of  its  members  are  people  of  edu- 
cation, refinement,  and  wealth,  by  reason  of 
which  they  can  accomplish  the  best  results. 
This  army  of  peace  will  continue  to  increase;  it 


For  Man  and  Humanity  295 

will  continue  its  work  until  war,  poverty,  and 
want  will  have  become  as  ancient  history, — a 
mere  record  of  the  horrible,  hideous,  terrible 
things  of  the  past. 

Mars,  that  devastating  God  of  War,  will  be 
dethroned,  and  Eros,  the  gentle  God  of  Love, 
will  reign  supreme.  Then,  and  not  until  then, 
will  there  be  peace,  plenty,  and  happiness  for 
all — for  all  who  perform  well  their  part. 

When  I  left  that  world  it  was  with  the  under- 
standing that  I  should  return  in  six  months,  and 
I  am  more  than  willing  to  do  so.  It  was  ar- 
ranged that  Creon  should  come  after  me,  and 
Hallie  was  to  accompany  him.  As  it  is  now  time 
for  them  to  be  here,  I  am  expecting  a  message 
from  them  any  day  and  must  be  in  a  position 
to  return  at  once.  I  have  disposed  of  all  my 
property,  and  in  doing  so  I  have  provided  a 
way  by  which  it  will  help  relieve  the  wretched- 
ness of  those  that  are  in  need  of  succor.  But  I 
have  not  yet  provided  for  the  publication  of  this 
book,  and  as  soon  as  I  can  make  arrangements 
for  its  publication  I  shall  be  ready  to  go  back. 

Yes;  I  shall  go  back  to  that  happy  land  and 
become  one  of  its  people,  and  by  performing 
my  share  shall  receive  like  share  in  return. 
With  the  people,  and  as  one  of  them,  I  shall  en- 
joy life  better  than  would  be  possible  in  this 
world,  no  matter  how  much  wealth  I  might  pos- 
sess.   And  there  I  shall  have  the  satisfaction 


296  Beyond  the  Horizon 

of  knowing  that  in  thus  enjoying  life  I  am  not 
preventing  others  from  receiving  that  which  is 
due  them  also.  I  shall  not  be  haunted  by  the 
knowledge  that  there  are  many  hungry  and  in 
want,  while  I  have  everything  in  plenty.  I  shall 
dwell  among  a  people  united  in  the  idea  of  help- 
ing one  another;  a  people  patriotic  and  loyal 
to  a  high  degree,  but  not  warlike,  nor  spending 
time  and  energy  in  destroying  one  another  and 
in  making  the  country  desolate, — a  people  en- 
joying a  state  of  civilization  and  enlightenment, 
in  which  individualism  is  not  paramount  to  hu- 
manity. 

During  my  absence  from  that  world  a  bunga- 
low is  being  constructed  and  furnished  in  the 
Capital  City,  a  dwelling  for  two ;  and  when  I  re- 
turn it  will  be  ready  for  occupancy.  It  will  be 
our  home, — Hallie's  and  mine, — so  long  as  life 
shall  last,  unless — unless  in  the  years  to  come 
we  shall  require  more  room  for  the  needs  of 
our  family. 

It  has  been  agreed,  that  we  shall  be  married 
here.  And  then  for  a  flight  through  space, — a 
honeymoon  trip  of  millions  of  miles,  from  one 
planet  of  the  universe  to  another! 


